Grandpapa Pease's Illustrated Alphabet

Large 8vo (10.75 x 7 inches), [8] single-sided leaves bound with facing pages, hand-colored illustrations throughout. First and last pages laminated to wraps, as issued. Dated 1847-1853 based on the publisher's address. Alphabet examples include racial and ethnic stereotypes typical of the period, and less typical references to Laplander people, Staffordshire pottery and several mentions of Scotland suggesting this was one of Pease's appropriations of juvenile literature from Great Britain. In Good to Very Good condition: Wrappers mostly split down the spine and just hanging on by a thread. Small chip to the top corner of the outer cover and tidemark along the upper edge, moderate expected soil and toning throughout. Rear cover advertises “Pease’s Great Variety Store” within a handsome decorative border, offering “Popular Games for Young People… Biographical Amusements… Historical Amusements… The Modern Game of Dominoes… Professor Punch’s Popular Game of What d’ye Buy…” among other toy alphabets and books. OCLC lists 2 copies (AAS, Free Library of Philadelphia).