The New England Primer
Facsimile Twentieth Century Reprint
Published by Ginn & Company
Athenaeum Press, New York - Boston (etc.)
( 1900 )
Undated, however research shows that Ginn & Co. published this work at the turn of the century; circa 1900-1905.

Hardcover.
Blue-green printed paper-over-boards.
Quarter-bound, brown leather spine.
3 1/4" x 4 7/8"
(2) + 88 + (6) pages.

120+ years old.

Scarce in the hardcover version, which has a leather spine.

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" The New England Primer , Enlarged ;
Or, an easy and pleasant Guide to the Art of Reading.
Adorned with Cuts ( woodcut illustrations )
To which are added, The Assembly of Divines,
and Mr. Cotton's Catechism, &c.
Boston
Printed for E. Draper, for B. Larkin in Cornhill "

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Foreward

'' We present herewith a facsimile reproduction of The New England primer, from an original published, as nearly as can be determined, between the years 1785 and 1790, and now owned by Mr. G.A. Plimpton of New York."
"The New England Primer was one of the greatest books ever published. It went through innumerable editions ; it reflected in a marvellous way the spirit of the age that produced it, and contributed, perhaps more than any other book except the Bible , to the moulding of those sturdy generations that gave to America its liberty and its institutions.
Even late reprints of The Primer are scarce and expensive, only to be found in the book collectors' treasure house. We have therefore made this reproduction from a rare and typical original, in the belief that it will be valued by the teachers and pupils of to-day."
- Ginn & Company

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Ginn & Company's circa 1900 facsimile reprint of the famous New England Primer, the first reading primer designed for the American colonies.
It was the most successful educational textbook published in 17th-century colonial United States and it became the foundation of most schooling before the 1790s.
In the 17th century, the schoolbooks in use had been Bibles brought over from England. By 1690, Boston publishers were reprinting the English Protestant Tutor under the title of The New England Primer.
The Primer included additional material that made it widely popular with colonial schools until it was supplanted by the Blue Back Speller by Noah Webster after 1790.

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Includes woodcut illustrations ; 11 pages of illustrations of Animals ( Lion , Whale , Lamb , Crocodile , etc. ), plus other woodcuts.

Contains a full-page reproduction of a portrait of George Washington which has been ascribed to Paul Revere as artist.

In the New England Primer, American colonial children were introduced to the ABCs by means of pictures and rhymes , such as :

A.  In Adam's fall, we sinned all. ( with a picture of Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden )
B.  Thy life to mend, this book attend. ( with a picture of the Bible )
C.  The cat doth play, and after slay. ( with a picture of a cat and a mouse )
D.  A dog will bite, a thief at night. ( with a picture of a dog chasing a thief )
etc., A-Z

Standing out immediately to the modern reader is the numerous religious references in the reading material in this book.
Bear in mind that this was an early American school-book.
A few pages into the book is found " The Lord's Prayer " and " The Creed " ( a summary of Christian faith ).
God is mentioned frequently.

In " Verses For Little Children " is a famous example :

"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
Pray the Lord my soul to take."

In the second half of the book is a Christian Catechism in question-and-answer form, explaining each of the Ten Commandments , the nature of God , Jesus Christ as Saviour , the concept of Salvation , etc.
Also here is " Spiritual Milk For American Babes ", giving more Christian instruction for young American readers.
The Primer concludes with a dialogue between a Youth, Christ, and the Devil , with the Devil attempting to persuade the youth away from faith in Jesus Christ and the hope of Heaven.

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Very Nice Condition.
Just slight binding wear, at the edges.
The leather remains in very good condition.
The covers remain very well attached.
Original owner's name in old ink on the front endpaper.
No other writing.
No markings.
The pages are clean and in very good condition.

Scarce in hardcover, quarter-bound leather spine.
About 120+ years old.