THE ROBINS AT HOME

London & New York: Ernest Nister / E. P. Dutton & Co., 1895. Hardcover. Very Good. Quarto, [28] pages, quarter red cloth, chromolithographed cover, presentation inscription to Tommy from Aunt Mary at Christmas [18]96; full-page inscription on the front pastedown in 1932, which explains its provenance; amateurishly resewn through the spine, with threads visible

This was issued as Nister's book 636, A Novel Panorama Picture Book. As such it as 4 double-page chromolithographed pop-ups (which appear to be quite intact! ). The third pop-up is unatributed, but it appears likely that it was done by Louis Wain, who did other works for Nister: it shows dogs and cats frolicking at the seaside, with a monocled cat with top hat and cane - typical of Louis Wain. The introductory poem is by Fred. E. Weatherley. "The Good LIly" is by E. Nesbit. Mutiple contributions by Clifton Bingham, including this excerpt: "They were happy little children, / And they had a prett book, / And they dearly loved to read it, / And at every picture look; ...." Another poem, signed only as "E.N." too is likely by E. Nesbit. It is "The Circus", a 6-verse poem. It inspired the final pop-up which shows two circus clowns serving wine and cheese to two elephants seated at tables. [ Opie Collection of Children's Literature, 039:241].