The Child's Guide to Knowledge by [Fanny Umphelby] - 1884

London - Simpkin Marshall, 1884 Book. Good. Hardcover. A pocket-sized companion primer from Victorian England. Direct from the library of the late Hugh Selbourne MD (1906-1973) a noted book collector and diarist. Intended as a textbook for teaching useful knowledge this text is in enlarged type. The title page states it is arranged in 'the most simple and easy language. ' This is the fifty-fifth edition of Fanny Umphelby's popular text. Set out in aquestion and answer style,the text is filled with questions and answers on a variety of subjects from starch to lithography. Typically each answer is a few sentences long. Other topics include costume, historical figures, pin manufacturing and porcelain. Author is listed as 'A Lady' to title page. The primer was eventually attributed to Fanny Umphelby. Encyclopedias for children were very popularduring the early nineteenth century andtherefore Umphelby had great success with her title. The only reason her authorship is known is due to her nephews' intercession in adding her biography to the DNB. Condition: In a quarter cloth binding with paper covered boards. Externally, generally smart. Rubbing to the extremities with bumping to the head and tail of spine. Rubbing to boards. Front hinge is slightly strained but firm. Small loss to front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally brightwith the odd spotthroughout. Overall: GOOD..