Three Little Kittens
(London): (Nelson), c1860. Early edition. Wraps. 16mo; pp; 32; illustrated with seven hand colored lithographs; set within modern paper wrappers with a title label at center; the poem has been set to music at rear; trimmed closely at bottom affecting titles to two plates and one line of text; lacking original wrappers else very good. Good +. Item #15348
"The poem was first printed in 1833 in Britain in (Eliza) Follen's Little Songs for Little Boys and Girls. It was an addition to the volume and probably inserted by the publisher. In the introduction to a subsequent edition, Follen denied any hand in the poem's composition, but took it under her wing and claimed ownership as the poem passed through various reprints. The poem was first published in the United States in 1843 in Follen's New Nursery Songs for All Good Children. An 1856 American reprint was subtitled "A Cat's Tale, with Additions". In 1858 R. M. Ballantyne elaborated Follen's poem and published his prose version in a volume of the Good Little Pig's Library. This version included a musical setting for Follen's poem." A well preserved example that has been rescued by a previous owner.
Price: $50.00