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Little Book of Natural History. Worchester, [Mass.]: H. J. Howland, [c. 1835?]. 8 pp. ; Illus.; 8 cm, Miniature (3 inches). Very Good+/Near Mint condition.This is a simple, two sheet, four leaf booklet bound in a blue-grey wrapper by a single thread through a top and bottom hole. The wrapper has the cover title Natural History and the note â Sold by S. A. Howland,â along with a central woodcut of an American eagle and a border of small eagles. On the back cover is an oval picture of a bird perched in a small tree, printed sidewards to fit the aspect ratio of the cover.There are six illustrations. Four are of the animals described: a walrus, cat (full page), hog and sheep. The walrus is describe as being â found on the icy shores of Spitzbergen, and on the northern coasts of America.â At the time Spitzbergen, a Norwegian island in the Arctic Sea, was a whaling base. The other two illustrations are decorations: a saddled horse at the center of the title page and a Roman goddess of agriculture, seated with a cornucopia, rake and plow, at the end of the text. In addition, on p. 2 (verso of the title page) is a page of upper- and lower-case letters of the alphabet, five typographic connected double letters and numbers from 1 to 0. The wrapper, thread and pages are in Near Mint shape with the only defect being some light foxing on the pages.This may be a unique stand-alone copy of this printing of the book. WorldCat shows two listings. The first (OCLC ID 191244866) specifies an address for H. J. Howland at No. 5 Goddards Row, which this copy lacks, but does not show any copies held by libraries with a WorldCat subscription. The second (OCLC ID 950908940) does not include an address; two libraries are reported to hold copies: the American Antiquarian Society and the Free Library of Philadelphia. According to the AASâ s catalog, its copy is bound in a sammelband containing 12 toy book titles printed and published by H.J. Howland. According to the Free Library of Philadelphiaâ s catalog, its copy is a later printing by Spooner & Howland, a partnership that began in 1839. Size: Miniature (under 3"). 8 pages. Item Type: Ephemera, small booklet or pamphlet, limited pages. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Antiques & Collectibles; United States; 19th century; Children. Main Picture: Little Book of Natural History (circa 1835) - Front cover with ruler for size (7.5 cm; 3 inches). Picture 2: Little Book of Natural History (circa 1835) - Composite of front and rear cover. Picture 3: Little Book of Natural History (circa 1835) - Inside front cover and title page. Picture 4: Little Book of Natural History (circa 1835) - Alphabet and number page with first page of text. Picture 5: Little Book of Natural History (circa 1835) - Pages 4.5. Picture 6: Little Book of Natural History (circa 1835) - Pages 6-7. Picture 7: Little Book of Natural History (circa 1835) - Page 8 and inside rear cover. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1438.
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