The History of Little Goody Twoshoes;

otherwise called Mrs. Margery Twoshoes.

[GOLDSMITH, Oliver]

[GOLDSMITH, Oliver] The History of Little Goody Twoshoes; otherwise called Mrs. Margery Twoshoes.

Isaiah Thomas, 1787.

First Worcester edition. 16mo. Finely bound by Riviere in full green morocco with raised bands and gilt titles to the spine. Double filleted gilt borders to the covers and elaborate gilt dentelles. Top edge gilt, others uncut. 2pp of publisher's terminal adverts. Woodcut frontispiece and 32 further woodcuts in the text. A fine copy, uncut and unpressed and mainly unopened.

The History of Little Goody Twoshoes was the most famous publication of John Newbury, regarded by many as the "The Father of Children's Literature" and the first publisher to sustainably specialise in publishing children's literature. Newbury first published the book in London in 1765 and it instantly established itself as one of the most popular children's books of the period. Writing in 1881, Charles Welsh states,
"few nursery books have had a wider circulation, or have retained their position so long. The number of editions that have been published, both in England and America, is legion, and it has appeared in mutilated versions, under the auspices of numerous publishing houses in London and the provinces..."
This Worcester edition was long considered the first American edition, before evidence of a New York edition of 1775 and a Boston edition of 1783, though no complete copy of either is known, making this the earliest obtainable American edition.

PROVENANCE: Doris Benz (bookplate to front pastedown, Lot 181, her sale 1984).

Stock ID: 34012

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