Featured Small 4”x3 “To a Child &c”. 1840’s

Acquired this American Tract Society little book. The printed address help me date it to mid 1800’s. 150 Nassau St New York. Interestingly that was next door to Currier & Ives address of 152 Nassau st. in the same dates. Curious if some of their same artist did a Little of Gods, side work for their neighbor . This is about the same size of a cigarette box and half the thickness 4”X3”. Can not find any information on this book with the collection of tracts, but most of the individual stories can be traced to the late 18th/early 19th. There’s a pencil written name on front page “Kellie”. Just wanted to share and see if any more information can be dug up.

 

The Annual Report of the American Tract Society shows the title Address To a Child as the first number in Series II of tract books they published for children. Many of the annual reports are digitized in HathiTrust. Also in Google Books. Are you located in the U.S.? If not, you might not be able to view this. The earliest mention I found of that title is in the annual report for 1829. Of course it may have been reprinted for years, so it would be hard to tell when yours was printed. Here is a link to the 1829 annual report. I did a Ctrl-F "find in page" but don't know if that will come through in the link. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.ah3irh&view=1up&seq=380&q1=address child

If it does work, scroll down on the page that comes up first and it will be listed at the bottom, under "Children's Tracts, Broadsheets, and Handbills."

 

Another thought... looking at the illustrations in yours, the women's clothing and hairstyle look like 1840s to me. Could be a little on either side of that.

 

I agree. Early Victorian. And pity the poor children who...

Debora

 

Thank you @Figtree3, great information. Seems this book is a collection of the first 8 stories. I am confident mid to late 1840's is just about right and your insight of the clothing appear to agree. The address of 150 Nassau St NY fall into the same according to this link.

https://www.americanantiquarian.org/node/6693

I pity the children these days too. &c.

 

Just a stupid thought would using a fine mist spray of distilled vinagar help end any further mold on the pages, or would I just be destroying the book.,?


---------------
update,

fun facts,
150 Nassau Street was built in 1894–1895 as the headquarters of the American Tract Society (ATS), a nonprofit, nonsectarian but evangelical organization that distributed religious tracts. Designed by the architect R. H. Robertson, it is one of the first skyscrapers built from a steel skeleton and was among New York City's tallest buildings when it was completed.

150 Nassau Street is located near Park Row, which contained several newspaper headquarters. The building failed to make a profit during ATS's occupancy, and the New York Life Insurance Company foreclosed on the building in 1914. After ATS moved out, the New York Sun occupied the building from 1914 to 1919.

 

The stains are foxing. Just leave as is.

"Brown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical reaction, generally found in 19th century books, particularly in steel engravings of the period."

Debora

 

I should add that foxing can be treated by a paper conservator but your item, a bound collection of religious tracts, wouldn't warrant the expense.

Debora

 

Hence my $uggestion to retard continued deterioration.
Also thought of momentarily putting it in the microwave.
But the was my assumption of mold, not natural aging

thank you Debora