FEATURED IS A RARER THAN RARE (see below) 1ST PRINTING OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE FIRST CHILDREN'S "TOY" SHAPE BOOK:  LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD BY LYDIA VERY, PRINTED BY BOSTON'S L PRANG & CO AS A "TOY BOOK" FOR CHRISTMAS 1863.

Lydia Very (1823-1901) was commissioned to adapt the tale for little American readers as a "morality tale".  She was the sister of noted Massachusetts Transcendentalist poet, Jones Very.  The tale, always a frightening one, ends with Red, who had disobeyed her mother by gallivanting off to Grandma's house without permission, surviving the Wolf and learning an important life lesson:  "And she thought with fear and trembling of the death that came so near! And she said the fright had taught her to mind her mother dear ... Then listen, all ye children, And mind your mother's words! For the great WOLF mean call EVIL is prowling around unheard!"    

Book measures 2.5" x 6.75" and weighs .3 oz.  14 pages.  

This volume, with its chromolithographed illustrations and basted wrappers, carries something NEVER SEEN ... have only seen one other in sixty years ... 
* the green silk Christmas Ribbon that was threaded through the what were considered "toy" books, which books were sold for 25 cents apiece or by the threes in fancy boxes for Christmas gift-giving.  Other titles published contemporaneously included Robinson Crusoe, Goody-Two-Shoes (another morality tale by Very), Cinderella, and King Winter.  Christmas of 1863 was a grim time and it was hoped that these toy books - classic titles in the form of shapes - would distract children from the reality of the war that enveloped the Country.   

As to Domestic Shipping, book is super delicate and fragile and will ship in priority flat rate envelope to include insurance.  I have had it for decades and I'd like it to stay in the condition that it's in!  A facsimile copy of the book was published by the Library of Congress in the 1980s.  Such copies don't have the smell, bona fide wear, feel or anything inherent in this copy.   


Check out our other offerings.  Happy to combine shipping where able.


We also  do have tens of thousands of cards from the Curt Teich Archives and will be listing them as well as tens of thousands of others ... all types and locales.  Many are categorized. If you're looking for a certain topic, let us know.   

 

Selling on eBay as early as 1997.  "The Mermaid" is also still a bonded auctioneer and real estate broker who spent the past "many" decades' specializing in books, ephemera, estates, and real estate.  Just shy of two million books sold to date.  Books and paper aside, if it is "Stuff", she has sold it!  She has now returned to eBay.  Health issues have brought us back.  We are even selling our own collections!  And ... we are picky.  If we wouldn't add it to our own collections, we won't sell it.  Hope you find something that you want, need, and, most important of all, will enjoy!  We look forward to transacting with you and making new eBay friends and customers.  Thanking you for your patronage in advance ... ! 

 

As to our "standard operating procedures":  Our normal shipping & handling time is three (3) days.  We ship weekdays with the exception of US federal holidays.  We will ship with either free shipping or calculated shipping ... it depends on the given scenario.  Often, calculated shipping will include insurance - again, depending on the item.  Payment is expected at time of purchase or close of auction, whichever is applicable.  This also applies to "best offer accepted" transactions.  Non-paying purchasers or bidders will be blocked from future transactions.  The same goes for winning bidders seeking to have sales cancelled.  That said, prior to the end of any auctions, bids can be cancelled through the HELP section of eBay.  If respective bidders are found to be cancelling bids in an excessive manner, however, they will be blocked from future transactions.  Shill bidding is not tolerated and will be reported.     

 

 "The Mermaid" is happy to ship globally.** (See below.)  For such transactions, "calculated" shipping fees apply and    Insurance will be required if not already included in applicable postal fee. 

**Unfortunately, there are a few destinations to which we cannot and will not ship.  That circumstance involves a fluid dynamic the specifics of which may not be clear until point of sale.  If such is the case, we will allow the transaction to be cancelled at our discretion and without any negative reporting made to eBay.  

 

WE ARE GLAD TO BE BACK!