THE WONDERFUL HISTORY OF LITTLE THUMB AND THE OGRE. To Which is Added Old Robin and His Dog, or Reward of Benevolence. (Cover title "The Surprising History of Little Thumb").
London: Dean & Munday, nd (circa 1830). Chapbook, decorative wrappers, 14 x 9 cm, (5) - 35 pp., folding 3-panel handcolored frontispiece. Spine with later paper tape reinforcement, moderate staining and wear throughout, old ink penmanship practice to inside of front wrapper mostly obscured by Edward Arnold bookplate. Overall a serviceable "good" copy. Item #23354
The story is based on Charles Perrault's "Le Petit Poucet," originally published in 1697. English versions are variously titled Hop-o'-My-Thumb, Little Thumbling, Little Thumb, or Little Poucet. This copy from the library of Edward Arnold (born 1825). His son, Andrew Arnold, in his preface to "A CATALOGUE OF THE LIBRARY FORMED BY EDWARD ARNOLD. THE GROVE, DORKING, SURREY. PRIVATELY PRINTED 1921, writes: "To his family, at any rate, the collection of Chap-books is very interesting, for my father, so far as I know, never bought any. He inherited them in the same way as some of the French furniture, Sevres and, Dresden china. He always set great store on these little books, as in many cases they have the names of his brothers and his sister, who all pre-deceased him, in them." A scarce chapbook with a compelling provenance. No copies found on OCLC/Worldcat.
Price: $250.00