The prize book
By: by Peter Parley ...
Contributors: Martin, William, 1801-1867.; Howitt, Mary, 1799-1888.; Absolon, John, 1815-1895.; Cooper, James Davis, 1823-1904.; Keene, Charles, 1823-1891.; Goodrich, Samuel G. 1793-1860.; Gregory, Collins & Reynolds.
Publisher: Darton and Co.
Published: 1848
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 208
Subjects: Gift books -- Specimens.; Children's literature -- Periodicals.; Boys -- Periodicals.
Genres: Specimens.; Periodicals.
Other titles: Parley's prize book; Peter Parley's annual; Peter Parley's annual; Peter Parley's magazine
Notes: "The extensive sale of Peter Parley's Annual for 1848, has induced the Proprietors to reprint part of that volume as a Gift Book or School Prize Book, which they trust may prove acceptable to very many young people who have not had an opportunity of reading the Annual.  Should, however, any young reader find that he has perused these stories before, any respectable Bookseller will not hesitate to exchange this book for another of equal value."--p. [3].

Consists of selections from the 1848 edition of "Peter Parley's annual: a Christmas and New Year's present for young people", 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".  Cf. Darton, F. J. Harvey.  Children's books in England, 1982.

Preliminary colour wood-engraved plate is with imprint:"Printed in colors by Collins & Reynolds From a Drawing by John Absolon".

Most wood-engraved illustrations within the text are unsigned.   Some are signed as engraved by J. Cooper after C. Keene.

Includes a few wood-engraved decorative and illustrated initials.

"Peter Parley's annual" is 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 "Peter Parley's 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 tan calico cloth printed in gold and black.  Lower cover with imprint: "Reynolds & Collins, Printers".  With light pale pink endpapers.  With bookseller's label: "Joseph Johnson  Bookseller, 10. Market Street,  Newalls Buildings  Manchester.".  
Table of contents: value: Peter Playful; value: A posy of anecdotes / by Mary Howitt; value: To a dandelion, which grew near a sick chamber; value: The siege of Antioch; value: Wars of the Dark Ages; value: Something wonderful; value: School experience; value: A posy of anecdotes / by Mary Howitt; value: The child's dream; value: The two Antoinettes; or, Sentiment and sensibility; value: The selfish man: a true story; value: The squirrel tree; value: The siege of Acre; value: A posy of anecdotes / by Mary Howitt; value: To a child six years old; value: The mother and her child; value: Something wonderful again; value: Parley's geographical sketches; value: A posy of anecdotes / by Mary Howitt; value: Something about seeing; value: Heroism of the British; value: Natural history; value: A posy of anecdotes / by Mary Howitt; value: Death of Richard I., King of England; value: Peter Parley's lectures for little ones; value: A boat song; value: The regal swallow; value: Wars of the Dark Ages; value: Natural history; value: A posy of anecdotes / by Mary Howitt; value: Peter Parley's lectures for little ones; value: Story of a King; value: Something about Egypt; value: The lark.