[Rarebooks] FS: Scarce, charmingly morbid children's chapbook

[powersrarebooks at comcast.net]

"The chapter of knowledge is very short, but the chapter of accidents is a very long one." 

                                                            --Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) 

  

  

The Chapter of Accidents: or Book of Caution for Children.   New York: Mahlon Day, 1828.   16mo (4 1/4 by 2 3/4 inches), original green illustrated wrappers.   [2], 4-17 pp.   Featuring 15 woodcut illustrations, plus the obligatory alphabet on the inside rear cover, and two small woodcuts of a mouse and a bison on the rear cover.   Spine split about halfway up, small ink stains on the cover and title-page, with a pencil inscription on the title as well; some overall mild browning; a good copy, and very scarce. 

  

A charming if morbid work that cautions youngsters against all manner of unsafe activities and describes the awful fates that await them.   With regard to playing with candles, we are told that “Dreadful wounds, and frightful scars, and death itself, often follow”; playing with fire in general is also a no-no—“Alas! for the child on fire! she is soon in flames! she screams, and runs, and cries for help, but this only increases the flame, and the poor sufferer dies a miserable death.”   And should a foolish child try to ride their father’s horse, the consequences are grisly: “Their light weight encourages the animal to frisk and gallop, and the terrified child falls off, perhaps his feet drag in the stirrup, he is kicked by the horse, or dashed to pieces.”   Other dangers include tumbling down stairs, fighting, playing with knives, running under carts or coaches, being scaled in the kitchen, falling out of window, being kicked by a horse, drinking out of a hot teapot, being tossed by a mad bull, drowning, and playing with fire arms.   Each one is accompanied by a fine little woodcut that must have left a whole generation of children shivering with fear at the very thought of daily life.   

  

Not in Rosenbach.  The American Antiquarian Society holds three later editions (with no additional locations cited for any of them) but not this 1828 edition.   The Library Company of Philadelphia has an 1825 edition but no others. 

  

$175 plus shipping 

  

http://home.comcast.net/~powersrarebooks/AccidentsCov.jpg 

http://home.comcast.net/~powersrarebooks/AccidentsTP.jpg 

http://home.comcast.net/~powersrarebooks/AccidentsPics.jpg 

http://home.comcast.net/~powersrarebooks/AccidentsPic2.jpg 


Powers Rare Books 

Greg Powers, proprietor 

344 Orange Street 

Manchester NH  03104 

603-624-9707 

powersrarebooks at comcast.net