Little Bo Peep

New York: McLoughlin Bros, 1879. Paperback. Fair +. Kronheim, Joseph Martin. 10, [2] p.: chromolithographed illustrations; 18 cm. Wrappers are paper over linen; the text and illustrations are printed on linen. Gilt, red, and green wrapper title and illustration. "Little Folks Series" -- at head of front wrapper. Front wrapper included in pagination. Back wrapper contains publisher's advertisements for New Picture Books for Little Children: Ancient Illuminated Rhymes; Familiar Stories, and Little Folks' Series. After one verse of the traditional nursery rhyme about Little Bo-Peep, this presents a complicated story about Bo Peep, her sheep, a princess turned into a crow, and dancing elves. The story is taken from My First Picture Book, published in 1871 by George Routledge and Sons and illustrated by Joseph Martin Kronheim. The six full-page color illustrations are based directly on those in Kronheim's illustrations, the only changes being in the depiction of Bo Peep, who in the McLoughlin version looks less like a shepardess and more like a courtly lady posing as a shepardess. No date of publication; advertised as part of the Little Folks series in 1879. Inscribed at head of first page of text: "Elizabeth McB. Chamberlin from Grandpapa Keltoe." In Fair+ Condition: loss of wrapper at corners and along spine; linen is fraying; wrapper is soiled and cracked; old dampstain at corners and ends of gutter throughout; complete and intact. Very scarce.