Banbury Chap Books | Page 8

all the curiosities about Oxford.
(The Banbury Cake).
* * * * *
We give a Bibliographical List, as perfect as is possible to date, of the "Halfpenny Series" of little History and Story Books issued at Rusher's Banbury Press, some even with the same titles as the "Penny Series," yet totally different in arrangement and woodcuts, used, as comparison in the Bodleian Library will readily show: Mother Hubbard and her Dog; Nursery Rymmes from the Royal Collections; Poetic Trifles for young Gentlemen and Ladies; The Cries of Banbury, London, and Celebrated Stories; Children in the Wood, Historical Ballad (Norfolk?); Children in the Wood, Restored by Honestus; Hermit of the Forest (Cumberland); Jack the Giant Killer, a Hero, celebrated by Ancient Historians (Cornwall); Robinson Crusoe; Nursery Poems from the Ancient and Modern Poets; Jack and Gill and Old Dame Gill; Read who will, They'll laugh their fill; Dick Whittington and his Cat; The History of Tom Thumb (Middlesex); Death and Burial of Cock Robin; Renowned History of Dame Trot and her Cat; London Jingles and Country Tales for Young People; Tom, Tom, the Piper' Son; Cinderella and her Glass Slipper; Jack Spratt and his Wife Joan, etc. etc.
[Illustrations: 271, 272]
Bewick School, used in Rusher's Banbury Toy Books.
[Illustrations: 281, 282]
Used by Rusher in his Banbury Horn Books, Battledores, Galloping Guide to A, B, C, Primers, Reading Made Easy, Spelling Books, etc.
[Illustration: 283]
[Illustration: 291
From Evans's, Long Lane, West Smithfield, used afterwards at Banbury.]
Rusher's Banbury Battledore and Reading Made Easy blocks, show the next improvement on the old Horn Books. Then Rusher published a Galloping Guide to the A B C., for which see next page.
[Illustrations: 292, 293]
[Transcriber's Note:
Beginning with D, each letter has its own illustration, printed in sets of three. The alphabet is printed continuously down the left and right margins. A page break separates the "Judge" illustration from its line of text. The complete pages can be seen as "pic30all.png" - "pic32all.png"]
[Illustration: 301]
A was an Acorn, that grew on the oak; B is a Boy, who delights in his book. C is a Canister, holds mamma's teas; D is a Drum, you may sound if you please.
[Illustration {D, E, F}: 302]
E is an Eagle, that soars very high; F is a Fox, that is crafty and sly.
[Illustration {G, H, J}: 303]
G is a Griffin, of him pray take heed; H is a Hare, that can run with great speed.
[Illustration {K, L, M}: 311]
J is a Judge, that the law oft obeys; K is a Key, that no secret betrays. L is a Lamb, often freaks o'er the lea; M is a Mermaid, that sings in the sea.
[Illustration {N, O, P}: 312]
N is a Nightingale, dwells in the wood; O is an Ox, whose beef roasted is good. P is a Peach, that did grow very high; Q is a Quince, makes a savoury pie.
[Illustration {Q, R, S}: 313]
R is a Raven, rapacity charms; S shining Sun, is the Banbury Arms.
[Illustration {T, V, W}: 314]
T is a Trumpet, your merit to raise; V is a Vulture, on other birds preys. W a Wren, that was perch'd on a spray;
[Illustration {X, Y, Z}: 321]
X was King Xerxes, well known in his day. Y is a Yew Tree, both slender and tall; Z Zacaariah, the last of them all.
[Illustration: 322 Reading made Easie, copy of Bewick.]
[Illustration: 323 You are Old Father William, by Green.]
[Illustration: 331 The History of Jack the Giant-killer.]
The above woodcut of a Fugitive Soldier (designed by Craig, and engraved by Lee) was used on the back of the cover of this little book, as issued by J. G. Rusher at Banbury.
[Illustrations: 332 - 337
Jack's Artfulness. Jack shows the Giant a trick. The Giant and his Prisoners. Jack slices off the Giant's nose. Jack kills Blunderbore. Jack strangles the Giants.]
DEATH AND BURIAL OF COCK ROBIN.
[Illustrations: 341 - 348, 351 - 357
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the sparrow, With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin!
This is the pie That saw him die.
Who caught his blood? I said the fish, With my little dish, I caught his blood!
Who made his shroud? I, said the Eagle, With my thread and needle!
This is the Owl so brave That dug Cock Robin's grave.
Who'll be the parson? I, said the Rook.
Who'll be the clerk? I, said the lark.
Who'll carry him to his grave? I, said the kite.
Who'll be the chief mourner? I, said the swan.
Who'll bear his Pall? We, said the wrens.
Who'll toll the bell? I, said the Bull.
Who'll lead the way? I, said the martin.
The birds of the air fell a sighing and sobbing, When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.]
[Illustrations: 361 - 367
The History of Tom Thumb.
The cow took Tom Thumb With a mouthful of grass.
His butterfly mounted, And rode o'er the stream.
He climbed up the edge, And fell in the bowl.
Tom soused