Infant’s Cabinet of Birds and Beasts (1820)

This little book of fine animal engravings was published in 1820 by Harvey & Darton, a publisher set up by two Quakers in London in 1791 with the intention of disseminating Quaker works. They began dabbling in children's book and by the early 1800s were the established leader in the field. If early literature for children piques your curiosity, have a read of our essay on arguably the very first children's picture book — The World of Things Obvious to the Senses drawn in Pictures (1658).