Banbury Chap Books Part 2

_Very Early c.o.c.k Robin Set, from John White's York Stock._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 17_1 - 17_10]

That quaint divine Dean Swift of St. Patricks, Dublin, edited some curious poetry for "A Royal Primer," sqr. 32mo, published in the Seven Dials, of Dublin ("Rainbow Court").

"Ech, ech, my dear'y, and Ach, ach, my love.

"There was a little man who had a little gun, and "There was a little maid who was very much afraid To get wed, wed, wed," etc.

This is long and curious, and was greatly altered and abreviated in early 19th Century Editions.

_"The Royal Primer," from John White's York and Newcastle Stock._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 18_1 - 18_12]

_From Dean Swift's Royal Primer, Dublin, circa 1770._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 19_1 - 19_7]

_From Evans's edition of Cinderella._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 19_8 - 19_11]

_Very Early "c.o.c.k Robin" Series, "Postboy" by Bewick for a Newcastle Newspaper, "Wife Joan," etc., from J. White's Stock._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 20_1 - 20_15]

_Early "Mother Hubbard:" J. Evans, Long Lane, circa 1770._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 21_1 - 21_10]

_Early "Goody Two Shoes," "Jack and Jill," "c.o.c.k Robin," The Fables, early Bewick School._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 22_1 - 22_14]

_All Evans's style of woodcut, Catnach, etc., all used at Rushers Banbury Press._

[Ill.u.s.trations: 23_1 - 23_11

_Babes in the Wood._ _Blue Beard._]

Providing ourselves with a variety of pens and ink, we select two of the best and proceed to describe the Banbury Printer's old stock of cuts.

Banbury, Oxfordshire, was one of the chief provincial towns noted for its Children's Books, Chap Books, Battledoes, Reading Easies, etc., also for locally printed works, notably for two, viz., Dr. Johnson's _Ra.s.selas_, and White and Beesley's workon _Bees_, thin 12mo volumes, boards, printed in a curious phonetic character, called "Rusher's Types." Rusher, printer of this town, had some ingenuity and originality of his own, and was not such a plagiarist and imitator as some of his contemporaries. Many of the tales he cleverly adapted to the locality, which have become very valuable. His edition of the Ra.s.selas realized 5 5s. This book was written by Johnson in a week to defray his mother's funeral expenses.

We give several extracts from some of Rusher's Penny Books which will show how well he adapted them to his town.

[Ill.u.s.trations: 24_1 - 24_4]

_[Early John Bewick,] Rusher's Lilliputian Library, Banbury, circa. 1810._

At Rusher's fam'd Warehouse, Books, Pictures and Toys Are selling to please all The good girls and boys.

For youth of all ages There's plenty in store, Amus.e.m.e.nt, instruction, For rich and the poor.

_From the New House that Jack Built._

See Jack in his study, Is writting a book, As pretty as this is In which you may look;

The price is one penny, For girls or for boys, There's more too at Rusher's, And Pictures and Toys.

_Poetic Trifles._

Sing see-saw, Jack thatching the ridge, Which is the way to Banbury-bridge?

One foot up and t'other foot down, And that's the way to Banbury town.

As I was going to Banbury Upon a summer's day, My dame had b.u.t.ter, eggs and fruit, And I had corn and hay, Joe drove the ox and Tom the swine, d.i.c.k took the foal and mare: I sold them all--then home to dine From famous Banbury Fair.

Here's something new Dear child for you, I will please you in a trice A halfp'ny chuse, Now don't refuse, A penny is the price.

Tho' basely born Pray do not scorn A Tale no worse than many For I'm afraid More say in trade, A halfp'ny's made a penny.

Good things to engross, Near Banbury cross Where Tommy shall go on the nag, He makes no mistake, Buy a Banbury Cake, Books, Pictures, and Banbury s.h.a.g.

Little Robin Redbreast Sat upon a tree He sang merrily As merrily could be.

He nodded with his head And his tail waggled he As little Robin Redbreast Sat upon a tree.

Now each lad and each la.s.s Both sister and brother May have books for each cla.s.s For Father or Mother.

And when with much pleasure You've read them all o'er, Then hasten to Rusher's, He's printing some more.