Peter Parley's annual
Subtitle: a Christmas and New Year's present for young people.
Contributors: Martin, William, 1801-1867.; Melville, Harden Sidney, fl. 1837-1882.; Chavanne, E., fl. 1833-1851.; Wall, G. H.; Landells, Ebenezer, 1808-1860.; Gray, Charles, engraver, d. 1847.; Goodrich, Samuel G. 1793-1860.; Doudney, David Alfred, 1811-1894 (printer); Darton and Clark.
Publisher: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.
Published: 1840
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 378
Subjects: Gift books -- Specimens.; Children's literature -- Periodicals.; Boys -- Periodicals.
Genres: Specimens.; Periodicals.
Other titles: Peter Parleys annual :; Peter Parley's annual :; Peter Parley's magazine
Notes: Added steel-engraved t.p.

One plate is with signatures: "H. Melville del." and "E. Chavane sc.".  Another is signed: "S. Nevitt".  Others are unsigned and without imprint.  All are with title captions.

Most wood-engraved illustrations within the text are unsigned.  One each is signed: "G. H. Wall", "Landells & Gray Sc.", W. C. Armstrong" and "C. Gray Sc.".

Publisher's advertisements on p. [1]-16 and [1-2] at end entitled "Works Published by Darton & Clark ... ".

The first volume in 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 purple fine diaper-grain cloth blocked in gold and blind.  With light yellow glazed endpapers.  With presentation inscription dated 1840.
Table of contents: value: Peter Parley's address to the youthful community; value: Teachings from nature; or, How to be happy; value: The old owl; value: Parley's calendar of science, natural history, and philosophy; value: Aunt Parley's tales; value: Christmas amusements; value: The flower garden; showing that little boys and girls should walk with their eyes open; value: "How big was Alexander, Pa?"; value: English history; value: Something about dogs; value: Words and things; value: Peter Simple's adventures with a clock; value: The two friends; value: The old lady, her cat, and its nine lives; value: Tales of the sea; value: The little mariner; value: Order and disorder; value: Sports; value: Barzillai Bunker and the thief; value: Something about cows; value: A story of a Queen; value: The life and adventures of Neddy Bray; value: Tales of history; value: The reaper; value: David Singleton, the young shepherd of the Southern Downs; value: The odd picture; value: To Algernon (sleeping); value: Wonders of a watch, and a more wonderful machine; value: Something about bees; value: The story of three boys; value: A wintry night.