Banbury Chap Books | Page 8

home, he gave me to his son a lovely
little boy, about seven years of age, and one as I found to my comfort
not only lovely in person but in temper also. His name was Tommy, and
he was praised and loved by all that knew him, and had often presents
of cakes, toys and little books, and other things that are proper for
children of his age; the books he kept with great care as things of value
and worthy of his notice, but other trinkets he seemed to despise.
Tommy and his cousin were taken to see Mr. Polito's collection of wild
beasts and birds, which were then exhibiting at Oxford, among which
were a large lion, an eagle, and many other natural curiosities, which
sight was very entertaining, as Tommy and his cousin had never seen
such before. They afterwards walked into the Colleges, round Christ
Church College Meadow, and indeed saw 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