Beschreibung:

The Butterfly's Ball, and the Grasshopper's Feast… A Winter's Day.
London: J[ohn] Harris, 1816. “Harris’s Cabinet of Amusement and Instruction.” 16 pp. 12mo (125 x 99 mm). 7 hand-colored engravings. Later full morocco gilt, g.e., with original printed tan wrappers bound in place. Condition : binding and edges slightly rubbed. an elegant copy of the expanded version of roscoe’s poem with mr. smith’s winter poem . Moon, John Harris 727(2). The Butterfly's Ball that originally appeared in The Gentleman’s Magazine (November 1806) became one of Harris’ toy books in 1807 and ushered in "the dawn of levity" (Darton). It inspired many charming imitations including: [With:] [DORSET, Catherine A.] . The Peacock "at Home": A Sequel to The Butterfly's Ball. London: J[ohn] Harris, 1807. 16 pp. 12mo (135 x 105 mm). 6 engravings after William Mulready Original printed blue wrappers. Housed in a later leather-backed marbled book box, spine gilt. Condition : light stain affecting last few leaves. first edition of this title that was nearly as popular as The Butterfly’s Ball . Moon, John Harris 215. The celebrated Irish genre painter William Mulready (1786-1863) was still in his teens when Harris commissioned him to illustrate The Butterfly’s Ball and other toy books. He had been accepted at the Royal Academy School in 1800 when only 14 and illustrated the original edition of Charles and Mary Lamb’s Tales from Shakespear e (1807). Harris published a brief monograph on the young artist without identifying him as the subject Only late in life did Mulready admit to being the illustrator of these children’s books. [And:] [ROSCOE, William] . The Butterfly's Birthday by the Author of The Butterfly's Ball . London: Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme; and J[ohn] Harris, [1809]. 15 pp. 12mo (125 x 100 mm). 6 hand-colored engravings. Later full morocco gilt (lacking wrappers). first edition . Moon, John Harris 727. [And:] [DORSET, Catherine A.] . The Peacock and Parrot, on their Tour to Discover the Author of "The Peacock at Home." London: J[ohn] Harris, 1816. 31 pp. 12mo (125 x 105 mm). 6 hand-colored mezzotints after William Mulready Later full morocco gilt, with original printed pale green wrappers bound in place. Condition : slightly rubbed, head of spine chipped, slight foxing. first edition . Moon, John Harris 605.