Children’s Books 1850

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 19 of an 23 - part series on children's books 1850s - 1881:

1891 Favourites Rhymes from Mother Goose
illustrated by Maud Humphrey:

1891 Our Christmas Box:

1893 Flowers I Bring and Songs I Sing
illustrated by Maud Goodman, Bessie Simpson & Helena J. Maguire:

Maude Goodman

Maude Goodman was born in Manchester but moved to London where she became a pupil of Edward Poynter. She married Arthur Scanes in 1882but continued to use her maiden name. She exhibited 54 works during the years 1874-1901 at the Royal Academy. She also showed works at the Chicago World Exposition in 1893.

Information on Bessie Simpson not found.

Helena J. Maguire British artist born in London 1860, daughter of artist Henry Calton Maguire, lithographer to the Queen (he had a studio at Osborne House for a time). She painted children and animals in watercolour, mostly for children's books, and exhibited at the Institute of Painters in Watercolours, and in the Royal Academy from 1881 to 1892. She died in November 1909.