Dartons: an Annotated Check-list of Children's Books Issued by Two Publishing Houses 1787-1870
In 1787 William Darton began engraving and printing books especially for children. Over the next 60 years over 1000 books for children and young people were published, and about 50 games and educational aids. A separate firm of Dartons was begun in 1804 by his eldest son, and using various imprints (always including the name Darton) they published over 1600 children's books in 65 years. This check-list contains details of the output of these two famous publishers, together with information on later editions, an index of artists and engravers and another of publishers and printers. This work is a source of reference for scholars of the history of the book, particularly in the study of children's books.
Awarded the 2007 Justin G. Schiller Prize for Bibliographical Work on Pre-20th-Century Children's Books
Reviews
?To those who questioned the justification for ?nearly a lifetime? of labour on this vast check-list Lawrence Darton had a ready answer. The task was there. It needed to be done. I would go further and contend that the Darton?s contribution to the history of childhood was so all embracing that it could not be ignored. Their descendant has created a lsting monument to their achievement.?
Rare Book Review
?Lawrence Darton?s check-list is admirably thorough?
?This is an impressive work. For librarians wishing to catalogue their early children?s books in any detail, the inclusion of the Darton number in a reference note field will rapidly become indispensable.?
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