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

1897 Victoria Toy Book:

1898 Rhymes of Father Gander:

1899 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
illustrated by Blanche McManus:

Blanche McManus (1869–1935) was an American writer and artist. Born 1870 on a Plantation in Louisiana, she studied in London and Paris, returning to the United States and establishing a studio in Chicago in 1893. By 1865 she was writing and illustrating a series of children’s books, including “The True Mother Goose” ( 1895 ), “The Voyage of the Mayflower” ( 1897 ), and “How the Dutch came to Manhattan” ( 1897 ).

1895 The True Mother Goose by Blanche McManus

1897 The Voyage of the Mayflower

In around 1900 she travelled with her husband, author Francis Miltoun, throughout Europe and North Africa. Their collaboration led to a series of travel books.