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WILLIAMS, S. J. Geography in verse, for the use of young children.

Nottingham. Printed by R. Sutton, 1845. Second edition.
53pp, [1]. Original publisher's green cloth, lettered in gilt to spine. Rubbed, dampstained. Upper hinge exposed, recent ink-stamp of City of Nottingham Public Libraries to title page, scattered spotting.
A revised and expanded edition of a collection of poems designed to educate a juvenile readership in the fundamental principles of geography; originally 'written for the use of an Infant School, and were generally sung by the children, being set by the teacher to some familiar air', and first published at Mansfield in 1835.

Following introductory verses defining several geographical terms, the rhyming couplets explore 'The world', 'Europe', 'England', 'Wales', 'Scotland', 'Ireland', 'Asia', 'Judea', 'Africa' (Including the lines 'In Africa's the negro's home, And there they live content and free, Till cruel men from Europe come And drag them into slavery'), 'America', 'The Sea' and, perhaps most interestingly, 'New Holland': '...The animals there are a singular class, Sloths, large bats, opossums, green frogs, kangaroos; Majestic black swans down the smooth rivers pass; Birds seven feet high are the long-legg'd Emus'.

OCLC records copies of the first edition at just two locations (McGill and Oxford). The second edition is apparently unrecorded.
£ 250.00 Antiquates Ref: 29357