[Early manuscript copy of Sands's Metamorphosis or, A Transformation of Pictures with Poetical Explanations, with charming hand colored drawings]

[Sands, Benjamin]

Published by [United States], 1800

About this Item

8 hand-colored drawings, within floral borders, with manuscript verse. On a 13 x 15-1/2 inch folded sheet of laid paper, folded to four 6-3/8 x 3-7/8 inch panels, each panel with upper and lower flaps. "Published at a time when children's literature was still almost entirely moral and instructional in content, the earliest movable books helped usher in an era of more entertaining literary fare . Stories about Harlequin and other popular characters from plays were reproduced as turn-up booklets until more elaborate toy theatre publications became available. They were made of a single sheet of paper folded vertically into four sections, with slits cut along the tops and bottom of the fold to create flaps. When closed, the flaps illustrated one scene; by lifting one flap after another the reader could enjoy a surprise 'unfolding' of the story" (McGrath). Benjamin Sands's Metamorphosis or, A Transformation of Pictures with Poetical Explanations, first published in 1787, quickly became the most popular form of this work, with Welch recording nearly forty editions published to 1820. As in the published version, the present anonymous manuscript copy depicts Adam transforming into Eve as a mermaid; a lion transforming into an eagle; a man becoming rich; and the rich man falling ill and dying. Each image is accompanied by moralistic verse telling the tale, beginning "Here Adam comes upon the stage." Although unsigned and undated, the laid paper and iron gall ink suggest the work to have been accomplished at the end of the 18th century. Although such manuscript copies by schoolchildren are known, they are quite scarce given their delicate ephemeral nature. Welch 1163.1-39, pp. 387-96; McGarth, This Magical Book p. 9 (ref); Young, Drawn to Enchant, p. 195 Repairs at folds on verso, minor staining 8 hand-colored drawings, within floral borders, with manuscript verse. On a 13 x 15-1/2 inch folded sheet of laid paper, folded to four 6-3/8 x 3-7/8 inch panels, each panel with upper and lower flaps.

Seller Inventory # 367060

Bibliographic Details

• Title: [Early manuscript copy of Sands's Metamorphosis or, A Transformation of Pictures with Poetical Explanations, with charming hand colored drawings]
• Publisher: [United States]
• Publication Date: 1800
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature
  • Americana