New National Primer (cover title: The National Primer)

Outer pictorial wraps laminated to plain blue wraps with naively stitched cloth spine covering. 12mo; 23, (1) p. A fair to good copy with repaired horizontal tears across pages 5-10; foredges generally riddled with short edge tears requiring extra delicate handling. Chipping to wraps and six letters torn from the outer rear wrap, exposing the blue foundation. Contents complete.

A generously illustrated primer with several alphabets, syllable and short word lists, short stories and proverbs, with an extra emphasis on military history. Notably, only boys are pictured in the schoolroom illustration on the last page--their "Infant Primer" also featured girls. 4 pages dedicated to the Revolutionary War Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, and naval engagements during the War of 1812; 4 pages with profiles of prominent figures like the early presidents, plus less enduring (to modern sense) figures like Stephen Decatur and Winfield Scott. The copyright is dated 1840, however, the profiles include William Henry Harrison's death and John Tyler's presidential sucession in April, 1841. OCLC records 13 copies with the same discrepancy but the NY address at 74 Chatham St., which they occupied 1843-1856. The address on this imprint is 169 Broadway, occupied 1842-43, dating this printing c.1842.