I have here for sale a children's book entitled THE HISTORY OF LITTLE DAVY'S NEW HAT by ROBERT BLOOMFIELD with 3 engraved plates. This SCARCE SECOND EDITION was published in 1817 by DARTON, HARVEY & DARTON, London. 

Bloomfield early prose work written for his own son Charles. 'The History of Little Davy's New Hat first appeared in 1815. It was a good choice for Bloomfield, as there was a growing interest in the writing of literature for children at this time. Writers such as Anna Letitia Barbauld, Sarah Trimmer, Patricia Wakefield, and Maria Edgeworth had helped popularize the genre, and, as the majority of those writers were women, Bloomfield could expect some interest in his work because of his gender. Indeed, Bloomfield claimed in his preface to his History that the story had originally been written for his own children, advertising his experience as a father as a reason for buying this tale. The story was based on Bloomfield's own experiences of life in a small rural village; Davys family are poor, making birch brooms for a living, and scrimping and saving to buy little Davy a new hat. As well as being a story for children, though, it was also designed to show the importance and propriety of philanthropy to the middling classes, for whom the character of Miss Wideland, who gives Davy sixpence at the beginning of the tale, would serve as a model. 

Bound in the original binding quarter - bound in leather over marbled boards. The binding and boards are age worn - please see photos. Inscription and scribbles on the inside of the front board. No endpapers present. The title page has name and pencilled note. Pages are age soiled and engraved plates have been painted in - possibly by the original owner, given his name is painted on the inside of the front board. This book is in good condition, tightly bound with no loose pages, 82pp plus 2 pages of publishers list. 15cm x 9cm.

Postage and packing : I know that you will be looking forward to receiving your order, each book is carefully wrapped in packing paper ( I have changed from bubble wrap to try and reduce my use of plastic) and posted in a Jiffy bag if size permitting, if not it is double wrapped in corrugated cardboard, brown paper and then securely taped. 

To keep the cost of the postage down to the most economical level per book, you may consider buying more than 1 item from my eBay account. You can then request a combined postage cost and I will combine the items into the fewest parcels as possible - saving you money :)

 

My main posting days are Monday and Thursday ie. If you place an order and payment is received after Thursday 12.00 noon your order will be posted out on Monday. 

If you place an order and payment is received after Monday 12.00 noon your order will be posted out Thursday morning. If you require your book urgently please contact me and I will do my best. :)

Please note that all local taxes , import duties and vat are at the customers own expense.