Divine and Moral Songs for Children
Cambridge Mass. Printed by W. Hilliard, 1804. Second Cambridge Edition. 16mo, 15.5x9cm, [iii], iv, [5], 6-36pp. Original buff wallpaper covers, stitched, and ornamented with thick black lines, vines, and circles in faded red and brown. Very good with some staining throughout, former owner's name and date on first blank page. Spine mostly perished, wear and rubbing to edges else complete. Wonderful example of this early 19th century, American wallpaper binding, in the form of Isaac Watts's popular book for children. Divine songs, a collection of verse which provided lessons in politeness and behavior for middle class children, was widely read for more than 150 years after it first appeared in 1715. William Blake would famously oppose the genre, and specifically Watts's work, in 1789 with his Songs of Innocence and Experience.
In Welch's Bibliography of American Children's Books Printed Prior to 1821, a similar copy is described as having "covers ornamented with crosses of black, squares of brown and circles of light green."
OCLC locates 9 copies of this edition, likely few in the decorated covers.
Welch 1240.17. Item #5016
Price: $375.00