1853 Booklet with Baseball Woodcut SOLD!

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Posted By: Rick McQuillan

Hello,
This is the last of the little booklets that I have been selling. This one has an inscription of the inside cover with a date of March 9th, 1853. The booklet is one of a series of Babcock's Toy Books published in New Haven. The front cover has woodcuts of children's games, and one of the woodcuts looks like the kids are playing baseball.

This booklet is worn, and the spine has been sewn with a fine tan colored thread.

I have sold a few of these booklets in the past, but this is the only one with the inscription on the inside cover.

$95 shipped and insured. If you are not satisfied with this booklet for ANY reason you may return it for a full refund.

Any form of payment if fine. No extra charge for PayPal.

rickmcquillan@gmail.com

Thanks,
Rick

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Posted By: barrysloate

Rick- this book is probably older than the date inscribed, quite likely 1840's.

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Posted By: Rick McQuillan

Barry, thanks for the info. Have you run across these before?

Rick

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Posted By: barrysloate

Hi Rick- yes, I've had quite a few, and some were dated, although I don't know how reliable that dating is.

S. Babcock, who was a prolific publisher of children's chapbooks in the 1830's and 40's, used this same cover for numerous titles. In 1835, he published one of the earliest books in America that included both basic rules for the game of baseball as well as a full page woodcut of children playing the game on the Boston Commons. Titled "Boy's Book of Sports", it was also republished in 1838 and 1839.

Because of Babcock's early interest in the game, it's not surprising that he would include a picture of a boy hitting a baseball on the cover of subsequent books. It's one of the earliest images of the game in America.