THE BIRTH DAY PRESENT.

FIRST EDITION. 8vo (24.5 x 15 cm), [8] leaves, the first and last pastedowns, each printed on one side only, and all bearing text and finely hand-coloured engravings (22 in total with text beneath; stitched as issued in the original printed yellow wrappers, spine neatly repaired, corner of upper wrapper with minor loss, otherwise apart from some light dust-soiling to wraps, a very good copy.


Uncommon first edition of this attractively illustrated work for children entitled 'The Birth Day Present', published as part of March's library of Instruction & Amusement.

The work begins with a fine engraving of a Toy Shop, two children depicted eagerly looking in the window of the enticing shop, and reminding their mamma: 'You told me one day; As we stroll'd in the park; That on my next birthday; You'd buy me Noah's Ark. Ah! now I can tell; Why you laugh and you stop for THIS is the DAY. And THAT is the SHOP' (p. 1).

The rest of the work then revolves around a busy day's visit to London of Master John with his uncle, where they see the London sites, 'The Lord Mayor's show', encounter a mad Ox, take in a show at Astley's Theatre, visit the Polytechnic Institution (seeing an electrical demonstration, as well as 'a steam engine, handloom and printing machine'), then on to the Grecian Saloon, visit the fair (where they see little Tom Thumb and a giant), and finally a Punch and Judy show. The final illustrations show Master John and his Uncle on a separate visit to the 'Surry' Zoological Gardens, where they see a tiger, reindeer, zebra, camel, elephant and a crocodile.

OCLC records two copies, both in North America, at Princeton and McGill.