Banbury Chap Books Part 8

There is also a selection of early educational books; but the largest collection formed is still on exhibition. In conclusion, it may be said that the present volume contains many precious relics of the Bewick, Newbury, Goldsmith, Newcastle York, Banbury, Coventry, and Catnach presses, and a representative collection of the stock of workable woodcuts of a provincial printer in the latter part of the 18th century, and to those who would like to inspect the rentable copies of those valuable and interesting little books, and some of the original Horn Books, etc., let them see the Coleridge, Kenneth Mackenzie, and Pearson collections in the South Kensington Museum.

[Ill.u.s.trations: 62_1, 62_2

_Rustic Cottages near Banbury._]

Since writing the above, there appeared in the catalogue of books belonging to William Bell Scott, Esq., recently sold at Messrs. Sotheby, a small 4to Alb.u.m containing a collection of wood engravings by Bewick, Clennell, and others, which with some newspaper cuttings made quite a dainty extra ill.u.s.trated volume.

If so eminent an artist could find pleasure and recreation in this pursuit, others may certainly rely upon finding it equally attractive, but he would have found his task much easier if he had had a large paper copy of this work interleaved. This is recommended to any person desiring to take up this charming recreation.

[Ill.u.s.trations: 62_3, 62_4]

_Ill.u.s.trations of Children's Books, used by Rusher at Banbury._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 63_1 - 63_15]

_All used by Rusher in his Children's Books, Banbury._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 64_1 - 64_11]

_All used in Rusher's Banbury Books._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 65_1 - 65_10]

_Used by Rusher._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 66_1 - 66_12]

_All used in Rusher's Books._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 67_1 - 67_13]

_Bewick School, all used in Rusher's Banbury Toy Books._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 68_1 - 68_11]

_Used on Local Tracts and afterwards, issued at Rusher's Press, Bridge St., Banbury._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 69_1 - 69_11]

_Used by Rusher._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 70_1 - 70_13]

_All used in the Banbury Juvenile Series._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 71_1 - 71_11]

_Engraved by Bewick School, used in the Children's Books._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 72_1 - 72_12]

_All used in Rusher's Banbury Toy Books._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 73_1 - 73_12]

_On Early Tract Society Publications._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 74_1 - 74_10]

_Used for ill.u.s.trating early Tracts._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 75_1 - 75_9]

_All used in Educational Tracts, Banbury._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 76_1 - 76_9]

_Used in Early Tracts, Banbury._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 77_1 - 77_8]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 78_1

BANBURY FAIR.]

About 1820, many curious Tracts were issued by various Societies with the ill.u.s.trations which follow. Some of these Tracts relating to Social and Religious questions of that day had been edited by Hannah More and her sister--at "Barley Wood," near Bath--also by Rowland Hill, the eccentric divine of old Surrey Chapel, and others; these are now quite ephemeral literary productions, notably some on the "Sunday Question."

Several of the following cuts were used contemporary with Timothy Spagg's (Charles d.i.c.kens's) Sunday Under Three Heads. One of these, an 8vo pamphlet, has on the t.i.tle, a large woodcut by Thomas Bewick, commencing;--_Here we have Bewick, I declare_, etc. Many of the original cuts to the Bristol series of Tracts issued from 1805 to 1820 are in this volume.

[Ill.u.s.trations: 78_2, 78_3]

Cuts used in Educational Tracts written by Hannah More and Mrs.

Trimmer, circa 1810. Engraved by Anderson, Thompson, Williams, and others.