This vast and comprehensive collection contains historic children's titles that were published in Great Britain and the United States from 1850-1869. The result of Ruth Baldwin's 40-year collection development efforts, this collection provides a window into mid-19th century society and culture, revealing important information on numerous topics, including: education and upbringing; family and gender roles; civic values; racial, religious, and moral attitudes; literary style and format; and the arts of illustration and book design.

A great strength of the collection is that it contains many different English and American editions of the same work, including various editions of such classics as Aesop's Fables, Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels. Also included here are fables, juvenile biographies, science and natural history titles, alphabet books, moral tales, fairy tales, juvenile periodicals, boys' adventure stories, early chapbooks and "toy" books (paper- or hard-covered illustrated books, frequently in color). The collection also contains extensive runs of magazines and annuals for children and young people.

The Baldwin Library Collection of Historical Children's Literature is a rich resource for social historians, scientists, theologians, philosophers and historians, as well as those studying literature for children. With just one purchase, libraries can acquire virtually every work for children published during this important 20-year span in American and British history, amid the trials and tribulations of the American Civil War and the glorious birth of the Victorian novel.

968 reels in 20 units