First edition. Bumped at tail of spine, else near fine. In the early nineteenth century the prevailing influence in children's books was the promotion of morality, coupled with instruction, and fairy-tales and such-like improper subjects were widely discouraged. So Benjamin Tabart showed no little courage when, within three years of opening his Juvenile Library in Bond Street, he launched out into the publication of a series of well-produced fairy-tales and nursery stories.

During his short publishing career, he continued to provide children's bookshelves with light-hearted, attractive-looking books for which he employed excellent artists and some of the best children's writers of the day. Many of his publications are now very scarce, but Marjorie Moon has recorded about a hundred and ninety titles (often in several editions), which have survived the hazards of nursery life. Since Mr. Tabert was not only a publisher but also a bookseller, part two of this bibliography includes other titles which he advertized as being on sale in his shop.
An introduction discussing Tabart's publishing career, his family life, and the very close connection between Tabart and the prolific publisher, Sir Richard Phillips, is included. Brian Alderson has contributed an appendix on the illustrating of two of Tabart's picture-books, and another appendix reprints William Goodwin's remarkable preface to his book of Bible stories which so horrified Mrs. Trimmer, the self-appointed critic of Georgian children's reading matter. From the reference library of Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts with their bookplate included.