Rational Dame; Or, Hints Towards Supplying Prattle For Children.
Printed and Sold by John Marshall: London 1806
Includes Engraved Frontis + 6 Plates (Lacks 3 Plates of 9 being I, II & III)
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The Rational Dame; or, Hints Towards Supplying Prattle for Children is a scarce early 19th-century moral and educational work aimed at guiding the intellectual and ethical formation of young minds. Written in the didactic tradition of late Georgian children's literature, the book reflects contemporary concerns with rational instruction, moral discipline, and the careful shaping of early ideas. Rather than idle chatter, the "prattle" of the title is intended to be purposeful conversation, grounding children in observation, reasoning, and moral reflection from their earliest years.
Printed and sold in London in 1806 by John Marshall of Fleet Street, a significant publisher of children's and educational books, the volume is illustrated with an engraved frontispiece and a series of engraved plates depicting animals and natural subjects to support the text. This copy retains the frontispiece and six engraved plates, though it lacks Plates I, II, and III of the original nine. The surviving illustrations remain crisp and engaging, offering valuable insight into early visual pedagogy and the role of illustration in children's learning at the turn of the 19th century.
As an example of early British juvenile literature, The Rational Dame occupies an important place in the development of educational writing for children, bridging Enlightenment rationalism and later Victorian moral instruction. Despite the loss of some plates, the book remains a highly collectable and increasingly scarce title, appealing particularly to collectors of early children's books, historians of education, and those with an interest in Georgian moral and social thought."
Heavy wear to covers and spine as shown. Small contemporary inscription. Includes Engraved Frontis + 6 Plates. Lacks 3 Plates of 9 being I, II & III. Pages with a pleasant aged tone and a few age marks but predominantly clean and beautifully presented. A very decent, illustrated copy of a scarce children's book. Please study photos to further understand condition.
