Children’s Books 1850–1881 part 15

The first section of this series (parts 1 - 11 was posted in July 2018) and featured books from between the 1850s to 1881.


These posts (parts 12 - 23) features books published between 1881 and 1904.

Until the mid-18th century, children's books mainly consisted of moralistic or enlightening stories propagating the religious and ethical view that hard work and diligence determines a person's life. Little consideration was given to children's reading pleasure.

Amid this trend, John Newbery (1713-1767), a London-based bookseller, took up full-fledged publication of books that were both "entertaining and useful" for children. A Little Pretty Pocket-book, published by Newbery in 1744, is said to be the first book that provided children with not only moral lessons but also entertainment. Newbery went on to publish numerous books for middle-class children in urban areas, whose number continued to increase. Newbery became well known in the United States as well; the most prestigious American award for children's literature is named after him - the John Newbery Medal, inaugurated in 1922.

This is part 15 of an 23 - part series on children's books 1850s - 1881:

1884 The Magic Ring:
The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) is the oldest Anglican mission organisation, and the leading publisher of Christian books in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1698 by Thomas Bray , (an Anglican priest), and a small group of friends, including Lord Guilford, Sir Humphrey Mackworth, Mr Justice Hooke, and Colonel Maynard Colchester. The emphasis was on setting up schools, and the SPCK was a major factor in setting up church schools across Britain. Today, the SPCK is most widely known for its publishing of Christian books.

The Society was founded to encourage Christian education and the production and distribution of Christian literature. SPCK has always sought to find ways to communicate the basic principles of the Christian faith to a wider audience, both in Britain and overseas. A related Scottish society was founded in 1709. It sent missions to Scotland's Highlands, and a handful to Indians in the American colonies.

SPCK's early publications were distributed through a network of supporters who received books and tracts to sell or give away in their own localities. Large quantities of Christian literature were provided for the Navy, and the Society actively encouraged the formation of parish libraries, to help both clergy and laity.

1884 The Princess Nobody A Tale of Fairyland illustrated by Richard Doyle:

Richard "Dickie" Doyle 1824-1883

Richard "Dickie" Doyle ( 18 September 1824 – 10 December 1883 ) was a notable illustrator of the Victorian era. His work frequently appeared, amongst other places, in Punch magazine;  he drew the cover of the first issue, and designed the magazine's masthead, a design that was used for over a century.

Born at 17 Cambridge Terrace, London, one of seven children of Irish cartoonist John Doyle, a noted political caricaturist.  Doyle had three who were also artists. The young Doyle had no formal art training other than his father's studio, but from an early age displayed a gifted ability to depict scenes of the fantastic and grotesque. Throughout his life he was fascinated by fairy tales. He produced his first complete illustrated book,“Home for the Holidays” when he was twelve; it was published posthumously in 1887. 

A Richard Doyle cover for Punch magazine

He joined the staff of Punch magazine  in 1843 aged 19, remaining there for seven years. He was the uncle of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Longmans, the world's oldest commercial publishing imprint, was originally founded in London by Thomas Longman in 1724. Longman himself was one of the six booksellers who undertook the responsibility of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary (1746-55). With Longman's death in 1755, his nephew, Thomas Longman, became the sole proprietor of the company and greatly extended its colonial trade. Longman published the works of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey, and Scott, and acts a London agent for the Edinburgh Review.

With the admittance of multiple new partners by 1823, the title of the firm was changed to Longman, Hurst Rees, Orme, Brown & Green. In 1968, Longman was acquired by the global publisher Pearson, owner of Penguin, and The Financial Times, yet the company remained primarily in family control until 1972. Longman continued to exist as an imprint of Pearson, under the name Pearson Longman, but is now primarily used by Pearson's ELT (English Language Teaching) business.

1885 At Home:

1885 Aunt Louisa's Nursery Book: