Boreman, Thomas. Westminster Abbey. Volume 2 [of 3]. Boreman, Tho[mas], the Bookseller near the two giants in Guildhall. London. 1742.

Boreman, Thomas. Westminster Abbey. Volume 2 [of 3 - projected 4th volume never published]. Boreman, Tho[mas], the Bookseller near the two giants in Guildhall. London. 1742. xxiv, 25-123, printed pages plus 5 pages of advertisements at the back. Frontispiece, 3 wood engraved full-page illustrations. Numerous woodcut head and tail-pieces. Including list of Boreman's 649 mostly juvenile subscribers (the first series of children's books to feature subscribers) e.g. Master John Gisborne of Coleman St. (about 100 yards from Thomas Boreman's bookstall in the Guildhall); e.g. Miss Penelope Brindley, 6 sets, niece of publisher and bookseller James Brindley of New Bond St. and delaers Caldwell and Chappelle take 50 and 22 copies respectively; e.g. Master Jacky Stewart Campbell of Jamaica or Miss Henny Hitchcock of Oporto; e.g. Master Natty Rogers [of Boston, New England] a nephew of Thomas Hutchinson of Boston,  and Governor of Massachusetts Bay, who had visited London in 1740; e.g. Master Dicky Bosanquet (1735-1801) known as 'Richard the Rake' who spent up his inheritance of £7,000.00, was bankrupted, and died alone in poverty. The eigth in the series of ten Gigantick Histories, the first time an English children's book focused less on instruction and more on entertainment. Gumuchian said in 1930 "The importance of these tiny volumes for the history of children's books is evident as they are the forerunners of the 'Lilliputian Magazine' published by Newbery in 1752. There is no doubt that few of these children's treasureas have survived, as they were thumbed to pieces in the long years that have elapsed since their publication". Spielmann described his odd volume as "One of the very rare volumes of the 'Gigantick Histories' printed for subscribers only, which are among the earliest English children's books dealing with non-religious matters". "The most remarkable tiny books of the century were perhaps the children's books published by Thomas Boreman in London in the early 1740's... with their lists of child subscribers and attractive woodcut illustrations, simple texts and interesting London subjects, they must have made ideal presents for young people, fashioned as they were more for pleasure and entertainment than moral improvement  and instruction. It is generally assumed that Boreman was not only the publisher but also the author of these charming volumes which have of late not nly become excessively rare but also very expensive" (Bondy, 21). Boreman derived much of the content from Strype's edition of John Stow's 1720 'Survey' and William Maitland's 1739 ' History and Survey of london'. The only complete set of Westminster Abbey that seems to have been recorded in ABPC was in 2007. Two contemporary vertical ink lines on page vi of the subscribers' list. Inner gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers (lacking rear free endpaper). All edges gilt. Contemporary ink handwritten letters of a young child on recto of frontispiece. 46 x 62 mm. Contemporary full ruby morocco (the series was issued by Boreman in Dutch flowery-paper boards). Spine in gilt geometrically decorated compartments with raised gilt decorated bands, and the number 'two'. Covers mitre panelled with rich scrolling hand-tooled gilt floral decoration. Spine slightly worn at foot, and corners slightly worn. Bondy, 21-2. Gumuchian, 4088. Welsh, 1413. OCLC, 35552062. WorldCat locates copies 12 worldwide.  157 firsts2024