Collections
Recent Acquisition
New Title in the Children's Literature Collection
Meeke, Mary, d. 1818. Mamma's Gift: Or Pleasing Lessons, Adapted for Children of an Early Age. New York: Solomon King, 1827.
In this charming book, a little boy named Charles discovers the world around him, under the loving and rational tutelage of his mother.
The
accompanying metal engravings exquisitely reflect such everyday activities
of middle-class childhood as gardening, ice skating, examining gold fish
with Mamma, and giving to the poor. The American Antiquarian Society has
over 100 books published by Solomon King (1791-1832), who during his
relatively brief publishing career issued many delightful picture books.
Mary Meeke is best known as an English writer of Gothic novels.
Mamma's
Gift was previously unrepresented in the AAS Children's Literature
Collection, so the acquisition of this edition is especially welcome.
Purchased from Michael Burstein. Harry G. Stoddard Memorial Fund.
-Laura Wasowicz, Curator of Children's Literature
"One day I am visited by a collector of ordination sermons; the next, by
a collector of 4th of July orations; then comes a collector of geography;
another wants religious newspapers; another wants every book printed in
New York before 1700. I accommodate myself to all; for I want every thing
and collect every thing, and I have more zeal than the whole of them: and
in this way I am kept very busy."
~Christopher Columbus Baldwin
3rd Librarian of AAS
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