The History and Adventures of Little Henry, Exemplified In a Series of Figures.
The rare Second Edition
Published by S. & J. Fuller., The Temple of Fancy, Rathbone Place, London., 1810
Issued in a 5" X 4" cardboard slipcase with the same printed text as on the soft card printed wrappers.
20 pages - Complete and original to this book are the set of figures - all in fine condition!
Includes all 7 hand-colored copper engraved die-cut doll figures, the 1 interchangeable head, and all 4 hats
The Slipcover shows slight wear, as seen in photos; the book itself is in VG condition and is still well bound -see photos
Each figure corresponds to a chapter of the story. You can change Henry’s outfit according to his changing fortune. The book comes with all of its paper doll parts – a cut-out head, four hats, and seven figures. Each figure wears a different costume, from an expensive suit to a pauper’s rags. As you act out the story, the head fits into small slots at the back of the figures. The hats are interchangeable with any of the figures.
The story is about how Henry is kidnapped by gypsies but by being honest, hard-working, and brave, the Henry is reunited with his parents.
Collector's Corner:
Later editions were created by Belcher of Boston in 1812, many refernce sites incorrectly credit Belcher with introducing Little Henry. Henry was actually first introduced by Fuller in 1810 as a companion to "Little Fanny". Joshua Belcher may have pirated the book but he made it the first commercially succesfull paper doll book in America.
There would be 6 Fuller editions in 1810 followed by more Fuller editions in 1811. (Note: I've found 4th edition 1810 and the 6th 1811)
S. & J. Fuller was founded in 1809 and operated until 1854, when its name was changed to Fuller & Co (1855-1862). Another name change occurred in 1856 to 1862 to Joseph & Samuel B. Fuller. The publishing company was located at the Temple of Fancy, 34 Rathbone Place, London 1809-1862 and also at 35 Rathbone Place 1848-1859. The company dealt in publishing, bookbinding, print selling, engraving, and card making, including playing cards
Partners of the firm were Samuel Williams Fuller (c.1777-1857) and his brother Joseph Carr Fuller (c.1783-1863). They opened their shop in Rathbone Place in 1809, saying that they had been ‘many years with Mr. Edward Orme, New Bond-street’, a print dealer and publisher. The partnership was dissolved in 1854 (London Gazette 3 March 1854)
Heal,89.63 advertises "S & J Fuller, Preparers of Permanent Superfine Water Colours...Merchants, Captains, and Traders supplied Wholesale and for Exportation. Wholesale Manufacturers of Bristol Boards, Ivory Paper, & Cards. Albums and Scrapbooks in handsome Bindings and Drawings of every kind for Embellishment and Illustration. Engravers, Publishers, Printsellers, & Fancy Stationers. Face Screens, Pole Screens, and elegant Poles for mounting ditto. Varnishing done in a superior manner. Publishers of the Greatest Variety of Sporting Prints, and Rudimental Works on the Art of Drawing, by the First Artists."
References:
Field, Hannah. “‘A Story, Exemplified in a Series of Figures’: Paper Doll versus Moral Tale in the Nineteenth Century.” Girlhood Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, 2012, pp. 37-56.
McGrath, Leslie. This Magical Book: Movable Books for Children, 1771-2001. Toronto Public Library, 2002.
Reid-Walsh, Jacqueline. “Movable Morals: Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Flap Books and Paper Doll Books for Girls as Interactive ‘Conduct Books’.” Girls, Texts, Cultures, edited by Clare Bradford and Mavis Reimer, Wilfrid Laurier, 2015, pp. 211-36