Infantine Knowledge, A Spelling Book, c. 1850, with Letter from Salem Jail! antique botanical painting with the banded areas revealing

with the banded areas revealing unglazed clay decorated with geometric patterns in black and blue and red circles

both formally (among other influences

but a great little carved boot still

and perhaps inspiration for some sort of party game

hand-sewn of oil cloth I think at least a hundred years ago

Infantine Knowledge, A Spelling Book, c. 1850, with Letter from Salem Jail! antique botanical painting with the banded areas revealingThe second of two early children's books this week both special ones, found at the Deerfield show as part of New Hampshire Antiques week. The title page here appears to be missing but I know this copy of Infantine Knowledge, published by C. S. Francis & Co, Boston, dates to 1850 or so, and it too is a rare one. I fell in love with the alphabets at front, including the dark red on the partially (and emphatically!) hand painted one, and especially the