[ABC.] Joseph CRAWHALL II. Old Aunt Elspa's ABC. We'll soon learn to read, Then - how clever we'll be.

'W is for Woodcut'

[ABC.] Joseph CRAWHALL II. Old Aunt Elspa's ABC. We'll soon learn to read, Then - how clever we'll be. London: Field & Tuer, Ye Leadenhalle Presse, Simpkin, Marshall & Co., and Hamilton, Adams, & Co. 1884.

Oblong 4to. Publisher’s brown wrappers with numerous woodcut vignettes; pp. 21, [3 (advertisements)]; naive woodcut illustrations by Crawhall throughout; light toning throughout, light foxing to gutter, uncut; else very good indeed; contemporary penny red postage stamp adhered to rear wrapper.

First edition of this children’s book for ‘Old Aunt Elspa’, the author’s pet name for his eldest daughter, Elspeth, illustrated and written by Newcastle ropemaker and woodcut artist Joseph Crawhall II (1821–1896).

Old Aunt Elspa’s ABC was published in the same year as Crawhall’s spelling guide, Old Aunt Elspa’s Spelling ('for chubbies who know well their ABC’). The present work was available for one shilling, as here, or ‘coloured throughout for two-and-six-pence’. ‘If one places them [the two Aunt Elspa books] in the company of Walter Crane's toy books, Kate Greenaway's pleasantries of sentimentality and Randolph Caldecott's colourful evocations of the past, they contrast startlingly and effectively’ (Felver). Here, K stands for Keepsake, a Kiss, Key, and Kick; L stands for Latin, Lessons, and Lick; M for Mischief and Monkey, Mend, Manners, and Map; N for Noisy and Naughty, Nest, Nursery, Nap.

Opie GG 113.

SKU: 2116197