Aunt Louisa's London Toy Books The Life of a Doll by [VALENTINE, Laura B.J.] - 1866

London: Frederick Warne & Co, 1866. Wraps. Very good. [ILLUSTATED] [WOMAN AUTHOR]. Kronheim & Co., London, printer. Small 4to (10 3/8" x 9 1/8"); [12] leaves printed one side only; stiff glazed pink wrapper, brightly colored decorative border surrounding lettering on front, rear wrapper is publisher's advertisement for "Warne's Nursery Literature;" publisher's string binding; 6 full page illustrations with offsetting to opposite page of text; light wear and soiling to wrapper, binding holding but pulling in wrapper fold, split in wrapper fold, pages age-toned; very good minus. Carpenter & Prichard 37. One of Frederick Warne's lushly illustrated Toy Books. In this story, an English girl named Fanny receives a walking doll named Violet for her birthday at an elaborate party. Fanny takes Violet on a trip first to India and then to France where they are presented at the court of Empress Eugenie (wife of Napoleon III) so that she can see a walking doll. An intriguing story highlighting the life of a wealthy mid-19th century girl, packed with lessons for girls and their preparation for motherhood.

The dating of the book is found in the clue on the rear wrapper in the review of Warne's Toy Books from the Atlas dated January 1866. Waddleton collection at Cambridge through Pi Co Boo website.