The New-England primer, improved; or, An easy and pleasant guide to the art of reading
Subtitle: To which is added the Assembly's catechism. : Adorned with cuts
Series: Early American imprints -- no. 48521
Publisher: Printed by James Loring, sold wholesale and retail at his bookstore, no. 2, Cornhill.
Published: 1815
Place of publication: Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 64
Subjects: Children's poetry; Congregational churches; Catechisms
Work titles: New England primer
Notes: Variant issues noted: issue in hand has title page frame design featuring diamonds and flowers. Page [2] has text beginning with the words, "When thou prayest." Page [2] also features a wood engraving of a boy and a girl kneeling in prayer. Page [61] features a wood engraving of a boy and girl kneeling in prayer before seated parents. Another issue has title page frame design featuring straight lines intertwined with a spiral line. Page [2] has a frontispiece of a boy and girl walking through the forest, with a caption beginning with words, "All good boys and girls." Page [61] features a wood engraving of a man walking with his dog.

New England primer bibliographer Charles Heartman located an issue of the New England primer issued by James Loring at 2 Cornhill, Boston with a printed date of 1792. (This copy was listed by Heartman as belonging to collector William L. Clements. See Heartman's New England primer (1934), entry 129.) Heartman estimated that the undated issue in hand was probably published by Loring between 1815 and 1830. Apparently, Heartman took the earlier date from the ending year of the partnership of Manning and Loring (1793-1815). In his Supplement to Charles Evans' American bibliography, Roger P. Bristol supplied the tentative publication date of 1798 for this issue. Imprint statements list Loring's address as 2 Cornhill St. through 1826, after which he is listed at 132 Washington St. One copy in hand bears an inscription dated 1826.

Last page blank.

In boards with leather spine.

Bristol B10406

Shipton & Mooney 48521

Heartman, C.F. New England primer, 435

Rosenbach, A.S.W. Children's books, n

Microform version available in the Readex Early American Imprints series.