Biblio Miscellany
Child’s Bijou
This volume, available in the rare book market, is a fine example of the high esteem of Susan Warner around the Civil War. We know of few contemporary anthologies that contain the sister’s work. It will be interesting to learn what material of Susan Warner’s is contained in the volume and whether it was original or taken from another work. The archive would be happy to receive this book as a gift:
B., J.H., ed. The child’s bijou. Buffalo: Breed, Butler & Co., 1861. 16mo (7.8 cm, 3.1″). 96 pp.
- First edition: Miniature collection of relatively sophisticated children’s poetry, including verse by Wordsworth (“We Are Seven”), Caroline Howard Gilman, Mary Howitt, Felicia Hemans, Eliza Cook, Susan Bogert Warner (a.k.a. Elizabeth Wetherell), and others.
- Binding: Publisher’s gray-green textured cloth, spine gilt extra, front and back cover each blind-stamped with ornate cartouche-like panel composed of arabesque and strapwork designs; all edges gilt. Spine gilt attractively oxidized, corners lightly rubbed; front hinge (inside) starting from foot and front free endpaper with very faintly pencilled ownership inscription dated 1880. One leaf torn across, with 19th-century stitched repair. Light foxing.
