Peter Parley's annual for 1880
By: with numerous coloured illustrations, printed in oil, by Ben. George.
Contributors: Martin, William, 1801-1867.; Goodrich, Samuel G. 1793-1860.; George, Benjamin (printer)
Publisher: Ben. George
Published: 1880
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 312
Subjects: Gift books -- Specimens.; Children's literature -- Periodicals.; Boys -- Periodicals.
Genres: Specimens.; Periodicals.
Other titles: Peter Parley's annual :; Peter Parley's magazine
Notes: Added chromolithographed decorative t.p. includes statement: "39th Year".

Chromolithographed plates are unsigned and without imprint.  All are with title captions.

Wood-engraved plates are included in pagination.   Two are with signature: "Muir Sc.".  One of these also includes signature: "AH".  All are with captions.

Includes wood-engraved decorative head-pieces, tail-pieces and initials.

Publisher's and general advertisements on p. [1-16] at end.

Part of a series published under various imprints from 1840-1892 that consisted of bound volumes of the monthly numbers of "Peter Parley's Magazine", which began publication in 1839 under the imprint of Darton and Clark.  William Martin edited several numbers of the "Magazine".  In the early years the "Annual" was published with the imprint of its distributors, Simpkin, Marshall and Co.  Cf. Darton, F. J. Harvey.  Children's books in England, 1982.

Believed to be the earliest boy's annual published in Britain.  Cf. McLean, Ruari.  Victorian book design and colour printing, 1972.

The American author S. C. Goodrich claimed exclusive rights to the pseudonym "Peter Parley" and quarreled with its use by both British and American publishers for works of which he denies authorship and for bogus re-workings of his writings under the Parley name.  He also objected to the use of the pseudonym for this Annual, the authorship of which he bears no responsibility.  Cf. Goodrich, S. G. Recollections of a lifetime, 1967.

Faxon, F. W. Literary annuals, p. 108.

St. John, Judith. Osborne collection of early children's books, Vol. 1, p. 406.

Cf. Darton, F. J. Harvey.  Children's books in England, p. 221-228.

McLean, Ruari.  Victorian book design and colour printing, p. 40, 42, 47-48, 58, 62, 192.

Goodrich, S. G. Recollections of a lifetime, v. 2, p. 296.

MASS copy: Bound in red diagonal rib-grain cloth blocked in gold, black and blind.  Upper cover and spine with blue paper onlays blocked in gold and black.  Upper cover blocked in gold with illustrations showing a boy and a girl reading.  Upper cover includes blocking in gold: "39th Year".  Spine with imprints: "39th Year" and "Ben George  London".  Boards with bevelled edges; a.e.g.  With presentation inscription dated 1879.
Table of contents: value: The tête-du-pont; value: Old and new clothes; value: Hans Holbein; value: Spotted dick; value: Dr. Henry Schliemann; value: Captain Gigot; value: The doctor's apples; value: Death of Louis Quatorze; value: A life for a life; value: Playing at Robinson Crusoe; value: The Bishop of Linkioping; value: The champion of England; value: Mr. Budd, the cricketer; value: Lincolnshire pigs; value: In a shop window; value: A problem; value: Well-won spurs; value: Monkey Bob; value: Musical instruments; value: Poetry. Life and cricket; value: Jetsom; value: Quickly coloured.