16 volumes. Complete with original sycamore bookcase box divided into four compartments with faded red paper lining.The front design depicts a partially glazed bookcase containing books above a closed drawer and two cupboard doors with keyholes. Original label on the back of the box, ""The Infant's Library MADE and SOLD By John Marshall, Printer & Bookseller, No. 1 Aldemary Churchyard, LONDON Where may be had a great variety of BOOKS and SCHEMES for the Instruction and Amusement of Young People"". See: Sydney Roscoe's ""John Marshall and the Infant's Library"" in The Book Collector, Summer, 1955; the copy he described was slightly different to this copy. VOLUMES: All in (32)pp., except where stated
1. (Alphabets). 64pp. orange boards, cream labels,
2. (Syllabary - combinations of letters & simple words). Text starts on A2, p.3. 64pp.
Marbled boards, yellow labels, and green spine.
3. (Scenes of Everyday Life). 13 simple engraved views with descriptions. 2pp. ads for
Picture Magazine & the 22nd no. of the Childrens's Magazine at end. Pink boards.
cream labels, and green spine.
4. (Everyday Objects). 13 woodcuts with descriptions. 2pp. ads for Picture Magazine and
the 14th no. of the Children's Magazine; 1p. ad. at end for 'A Dissected Map of England
Upon a New Plan', price 7s. 6d, Yellow boards, pink labels.
5. (Animals). 13 woodcuts with descriptions (ten with amateur colouring). 2pp. ads for Picture Magazine and the 26th no. of the Children's Magazine; 1p. at end for the Dissected map. Light blue boards, cream labels. Lower half of title-page defective,
6. (Scenes of Everyday Life). 12 views. Ads. as (3). Black
boards, cream labels
7. (Flowers). 12 woodcuts. Ads. for Picture Magazine & the 23rd no. of the Childrens's Magazine after title-page. Yellow boards, pink labels.
8. (Birds). 12 woodcuts. 2pp. ads at front, as at (3). Pink boards, cream labels.
9. (Boys' Games). 12 woodcuts. Ads. as (7). Light blue boards, cream labels.
10. (Objects - Household Items). 14 woodcuts. Ads. as (3). Orange boards, light blue labels.
11. (Scenes of Everyday Life - Architecture). 13 views. Ads. as (7).
Yellow boards, light blue labels.
12. (Scenes of Everyday Life). 13 views. Ads. as (3). Orange boards, cream labels.
13. (Girls' Games). 12 woodcuts. Ads. as (3). Black boards, yellow labels.
14. (Scenes of Everyday Life - Rural). 13 views. Ads as (3). Pink boards, cream labels.
15. (Scenes of Everyday Life - Rural II). 13 views. Ads as (3). Yellow boards, light blue
labels.
16. A Short History of England for the Infant's Library. Woodcuts of sovereigns in text.
(64)pp. Lilac boards, yellow labels,
An exceptional collection in original bookcase box, in exceptional condition
1800-1801. COMPLETE SET IN PUBLISHER'S ORIGINAL BOOKCASE, most with woodcut illustrations, Book 1 with short tears to margins of a few leaves, Lower half of spine defective on volume five and illustrations hand-coloured in blue and green, publisher's different coloured boards, original printed labels ("The Infant's Library") on upper covers, most spines with old minor repairs, held in original wooden case (c.160 x 90 x 60mm.) [Alderson, Miniature Libraries for the Young, 2; Osborne II, p.899], books 60 x 45mm. Original harlequin paper covered boards with oval hand coloured labels on the front and back covers, many with ornately cut edges. Bondy, 59-60. Spielmann, 209-224. OCLC, 8837332. WorldCat locates 15 sets worldwide.