Peter Parley's annual for 1888
By: profusely illustrated.
Contributors: Martin, William, 1801-1867.; Goodrich, Samuel G. 1793-1860.; George, Benjamin (printer); Meisenbach Co. Ltd.
Publisher: Ben. George
Published: 1888
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 296
Subjects: Gift books -- Specimens.; Children's literature -- Periodicals.; Boys -- Periodicals.; Girls -- Periodicals.
Genres: Specimens.; Periodicals.
Other titles: Peter Parley's annual for boys & girls :; Peter Parley's annual :; Peter Parley's magazine
Notes: Added chromolithographed decorative t.p. includes statement: "47th Year".

Preliminary chromolithographed plate is unsigned and without imprint.

One photomechanical plate is with imprint: "Meisenbach".  Others are unsigned.

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

General advertisements on p. [1-12] at end include illustrations and are with caption title: "Peter Parley's Annual, 1888--Advertising Sheet.".

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 fine diagonal rib-grain cloth blocked in gold, black and blind.  Upper cover and spine with blue and white paper onlays blocked in gold.  Upper cover includes blocking in gold and black: "47th Year".  Spine with imprints: "47th Year" and "Ben George  London".  Boards with bevelled edges; a.e.g.
Table of contents: value: The feud; value: The enemy of man; value: Only a cad; value: In perils amongst Papuans; value: Some fine old puzzles.