Banbury Chap Books | Page 3

finally Banbury,
edition of this oft published work.
The Blocks designed and engraved by John Bewick, for "The Hermit;
or Philip Quarll," (circa 1785.)
[Illustrations: iv1 - iv6]

Tegg's edition of 356 pages, 12mo, is to be seen in the Reading Room
of the British Museum, and gives the full text and history of these. This
curious book would well bear representing with the original Bewick
cuts, after the manner of the present Newbery firm, who have revived
Butterfly's Ball, Grasshopper's Feast, Goody Two Shoes, Looking
Glass for the Mind, and contemplate others in the immediate future.
Tegg in his reprint of the Book on Philip Quarll, states that he was born
in St. Giles' Parish, London, 1647, voyaged to Brazil, Mexico, and
other parts of America, was left on an island, nourished by a goat, and
other surprising adventures. Edward Dorrington communicates an
account (see p. 1 to 94 inclusive) of how the hermit Philip Quarll was
discovered, with his (E. D.'s) return to Bristol from Mexico, Jan. 3,
1724-5; but is about returning to Peru and Mexico again (p. 94). This is
of both American and Bewick interest. Besides these representatives of
this Chap Book, we are enabled to give in this collection impressions
from the blocks of other editions fortunately rescued from oblivion and
destruction.
[Illustrations: v1, v2]
[Illustrations: vi1, vi2]

[Illustration: 11]
BANBURY CHAP BOOKS.
"Old Story Books! Old Story Books! we owe ye much old friends,
Bright coloured threads in memory's wrap, of which Death holds the
ends, Who can forget ye? Who can spurn the ministers of joy That
waited on the lisping girl and petticoated boy? Talk of your vellum,
gold emboss'd morocco, roan, and calf, The blue and yellow wraps of
old were prettier by half."
--Eliza Cook's Poems.
In 1708 John White, a Citizen of York, established himself as a printer
in Newcastle-on-Tyne, bringing with him a stock of quaint old cuts,

formerly his father's, at York, where he was Sole Printer to King
William, for the five Northern Counties of England. He entered into
partnership with Thomas Saint, who on the death of John White, at
their Printing Office in Pilgrim Street, succeeded in 1796 to his
extensive business as Printer, Bookseller, and Publisher. In this stock
of woodcuts were some of the veritable pieces of wood engraved, or cut
for Caxton, Wynken de Worde, Pynson, and others down to Tommy
Gent--the curious genius, historian, author, poet, woodcuter and
engraver, binder and printer, of York. We give some early examples out
of this stock. Thomas Saint, about 1770, had the honour of introducing
to the public, the brothers Thomas and John Bewick's first efforts in
wood-engravings, early and crude as they undoubtedly were. They are
to be found in Hutton "On Mensuration," and also in various children's
and juvenile works, such as Æsop's and Gay's Fables. We give some of
the earliest known of their work in this very interesting collection of
woodcuts.
Some years ago a collection was formed of Newbury and Marshall's
Children's Gift Toy Books, and early educational works, which were
placed in the South Kensington Museum, in several glass cases. These
attracted other collections of rare little volumes, adorned with similar
cuts, many of which are from the identical blocks here impressed,
notably the "Cries of York," "Goody Two Shoes," etc. They are still on
view, near the George Cruikshank collection, and during the twenty
years they have been exhibited, such literature has steadily gone up to
fancy prices.
Charles Knight in his Shadows of the Old Booksellers, says of Newbury,
(pp. 233), "This old bookseller is a very old friend of mine. He wound
himself round my heart some seventy years ago, when I became
possessed of an immortal volume, entitled the history of 'Little Goody
Shoes.' I felt myself personally honoured in the dedication." He then
refers to Dr. Primrose, Thomas Trip, etc., and adds further on, "my
father had a drawer full of them [Newbury's little books] very smartly
bound in gilt paper." Priceless now would this collection be, mixed up
with horn-books--a single copy of which is one of the rarest relics of
the olden time.

Chalmer's in his preface to "Idler," regards Mr. Newbury as the
reputed author of many little chap books for masters and misses.
Mr. John Nichols brings forward other candidates for the honour of
projecting and writing the "Lilliputian histories, of Goody Two Shoes,
etc.;" and refers to Griffith Jones and Giles Jones, in conjunction with
Mr. John Newbury, as those to whom the public are indebted for the
origin of those numerous and popular little books for the amusement
and instruction of children, which have ever since been received with
universal approbation.
The following are two of the identical cuts engraved by John Bewick,
and used in the