Volume VII · Spring 1952 · Number 3
Mahlon Day's Books for Children
--MARGARET TOTH
 
 

The library's collection of children's books, a gift of Mrs. C. Schuyler Davis, was described in the Autumn 1950 issue of the Library Bulletin in an article by Miss Vera Tweddell. This collection of about 750 volumes is now catalogued and has been placed in the Treasure Room. A classification scheme was devised to keep the collection in a separate section as a special unit; by so doing it was possible to place publications of various countries together and then to subarrange by date. This was done because it was felt that, from a collector's point of view, place of publication was of prime importance, then next in order the date of publication. The processing of these books brought to light many items of interest not so easily distinguished when the collection was viewed as a whole. The purpose of this article is to describe rather fully the work of Mahlon Day, an early New York printer, whose special field was the publication of books for children.

In the first third of the nineteenth century there were three printers in New York City who directed a large part of their endeavor to publishing books especially for children, a hitherto somewhat neglected field. These three were Solomon King, who published between 1821 and 1832, represented in our collection by two titles; Samuel Wood (later Samuel Wood and Son) who published between 1803 and 1836, represented by ten titles in our collection; and Mahlon Day, who published from 1816 to 1844, represented by twenty-five titles. These men were largely responsible for the change from moral and instructional books for children to books for entertainment and enjoyment.

Mahlon Day was born in Morristown, New Jersey, on August 27, 1790. He attended school at an academy near his home, where an older brother was a teacher. Since his mother was left a widow with seven children, Mahlon was not able to stay in school very long, so he was apprenticed to a Morristown printer, and learned the printing trade. He finished his apprenticeship in 1811 and after a short time went to New York to work. By 1815 he had done well enough to start his own business and get married. One of his earliest publications was Day's Bank Note List and Counterfeit Detector, a useful reference guide in those days of shaky banks and privately printed currency. He published this until 1837 or 1838. In his diary he referred to it as dull work, but a source of his bread and butter. He also published school books, and about 1822 he began to publish the little children's books which are now so well known. Several addresses are given for his place of business. The first 35 Beaver Street, later 84 Water Street, and finally three different numbers on Pearl Street, the last one being 374. According to advertisements in his own publications he carried a stock of school books which were the works of other publishers.

In 1820 he and his wife became members of the Society of Friends and both of them worked tirelessly for the Society thereafter. He retired from active participation in his business about 1844, at which time he turned his business over to his nephew Stephen Crane, his only son Edward M. Day, and George Baker, a former apprentice, who organized the firm of Baker, Crane & Day. Thus relieved of business cares he devoted his time more and more to charitable works. According to the Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York for the Year 1850 he was a member of boards of various institutions, among them The New York Institution for the Blind, The Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, and The Association for the Benefit of Colored Orphans. In 1854, Day went to England with his wife and daughter to visit Mrs. Day's relatives and to attend the Yearly Meeting of the Friends. They were returning on the steamer "Arctic" which collided with the French propeller boat "Vesta" off Cape Race on September 27, 1854, and were among the hundreds who perished in that disaster.

The firm of Baker, Crane & Day did not last long. Mahlon's son was not interested in the publishing business and left New York. He came to Rochester, married, and settled here in the then fashionable residential section on Spring Street. He had two sons, Mahlon and Belden, both of whom attended the University of Rochester. Mahlon was in the class of 1880, Belden, the class of 1881. Belden married Florence Osgood and had a daughter, Charlotte Seymour Day and two sons, Howard O. Day and Edward B. Day. Charlotte Seymour Day, Mahlon Day's great­granddaughter, is a niece of Mrs. Davis. Miss Day and Mrs. Davis supplied us with notes which made it possible to enlarge on biographical information found in newspapers and directories of the period. It is interesting to note that although Mahlon's son did not care for the publishing business, his grandson Belden apparently did, because he was associated with the firm of Longmans, Green & Company, and other publishing houses.

A list and description of the Mahlon Day publications in our collection follows:

THE A, B, C, IN VERSE. [Woodcut. Four lines of verse.] Stereotyped by James Conner, New-York. New-York: Printed & sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. n.d. 90 x 52 mm. 16 p. not including covers. On back cover Day advertises school books. In our copy pages are bound out of order.

THE AMUSING PUZZLING BOOK. [Woodcut. Seven lines of verse.] Stereotyped by James Conner, New-York. New-York: Printed & sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. n.d. 88 x 55 mm. 16 p. No covers. Illustrations on title page and on page 15 are hand-colored. Woodcuts in text. This is one of the puzzles:

Two bodies have I,
Though both joined in one;
The stiller I stand,
The faster I run.

An Hourglass

BLIND SUSAN, OR THE AFFECTIONATE FAMILY. By M. of Lowell. [Illustration. Verse.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 10 1/2 x 6 1/2 cm. 18 p. including covers. Orange paper illustrated covers. According to Preface on page 4, signed M.D. this is taken from The Juvenile Miscellany, printed in Boston. The illustrations in the text are hand-colored. Books for sale by M. Day advertised on back cover. In our copy the upper portion of title page is lacking.

A BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM PENN. Compiled by Priscilla Wakefield. New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, No. 84, Water-street. 1821. 14 1/2 x 9 cm. 56 p. including heavy paper covers. Address on cover No. 372, Pearl-street. selected for juvenile readers from Thomas Clarkson's life of William Penn. Frontispiece "William Penn's Treaty with the Indians." The back cover contains "Lines by Dr. Roscoe of Liverpool, on receiving from Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, a piece of the tree under which William Penn made his Treaty with the Indians."

THE GOOD CHILD'S A, B, C, BOOK. With Beautiful Oval Cuts. [Woodcut. Four lines of verse.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1829. 11 x 7 cm. 18 p. including verso of cover and inside back cover. Pink hand-colored covers. This verse appears on cover and title page:

Sleep, my babe, lie still and slumber,
Holy angels guard thy bed,
Heav'nly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.

HARRY WINTER; THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR BOY. To which is added The oak at home. [ Woodcut.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 15 x 9 cm. 23 p. including frontispiece. Illustrations in text. Yellow paper illustrated covers. Frontispiece and p. 23 are mounted on inside front and back covers respectively. The preface to the first story is signed M. D. (? Mahlon Day). The second story has the title: The oak "at home," an allegory. << From the Boston juvenile Miscellany>>. It is signed M. H., and dated from Marblehead, Mass., 1828. Back cover contains a list of children's books published by Mahlon Day for sale at two cents each.

THE HISTORY OF TAME BEASTS. [Woodcut.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 10 1/2 x 6 1/2 cm. 17 p. Illustrations in text. Bright yellow illustrated covers.

HYMNS FOR INFANT SCHOOLS. [Woodcut.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 14 1/2 x 9 cm. 22 p. Without music. Advertisement on verso of title page, ". . .taken from a late 'Essay on infant cultivation.' "

THE JUVENILE ALMANAC; OR, SERIES OF MONTHLY EMBLEMS. [Verse.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 20 x 12 1/2 cm. 25 p. Illustrated title page. Illustrations in text. Rose-colored paper covers, illustrated.

LESSONS FOR CHILDREN. Consisting of words of one and two syllables. [Woodcut.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 10 1/2 x 6 1/2 cm. 17 p. Yellow paper covers with woodcut of stag oil front and list of books for sale by Mahlon Day on back.

LITTLE SUSAN AND HER LAMB. [Woodcut.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 11 x 6 1/2 cm. 16 p. Frontispiece. Illustrations in text. 4 plates. Orange paper covers. Frontispiece on inside front cover, text on inside back cover (numbered 18).

MY MOTHER, A POEM. [Woodcut.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1832. 10 1/2 x 6 1/2 cm. 18 p. including frontispiece. Illustrations in text. Illustrated yellow paper cover has border illustration. School books for sale by M. Day advertised on back cover. This advertisement appears on verso of the title page:

George and Susan, do look! see!
I've got a book for you and me,
In Pearl-street purchas'd of M.D.
      Who's many more.

Also contains "The Cradle Hymn" and "Winter Evening's Amusement for Jane and I," the latter by A.M.

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SEASONS; OR, YOUTHS' YEAR BOOK. Containing also a number of historical and interesting facts for each month, arranged in chronological order. Enlarged and corrected from a London edition. New-York: Mahlon Day, No. 374 Pearl-street. 1837. 15 x 12 1/2 cm. vi, 7-143 p. Illustrations in text. Error in paging in our copy: 54 wrongly numbered 50.

THE NEW-YORK CRIES IN RHYME. Copy-right secured. [Illustration. Four lines of verse.] New-York. Mahlon Day, 374 Pearl-street. 1836. 18 1/2 x 13 cm. 17 p. This is a facsimile reprint by Grosset and Dunlap, 1939.

      HOT CORN!
"Here's your nice Hot Corn!
"Smoking hot! piping hot!
"O what beauties I have got?"
Here's smoking hot Corn,
With salt that is nigh,
Only two pence an ear,
O pass me not by!

THE NEW-YORK GUIDE, IN MINIATURE. Containing hints and cautions to all little strangers at New-York. [Woodcut. Two lines of verse.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1830. 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 cm. 47 p. including frontispiece. Illustrations in text, some of which are hand-colored. In verse. This is one verse from a long poem entitled "A walk through the city":

And turning back, when weari'd grown,
in crooked Pearl-street come,
And don't forget, as you pass down,
M. Day to call upon.

NEW YORK SCENES. Designed for the entertainment and instruction of children of city and country. [Woodcut.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1830. 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 cm. 47 p. including frontispiece. Illustrations in text.

PARLEY'S STORIES ABOUT CURIOUS AND WONDERFUL BIRDS. [Woodcut.] New-York: Mahlon Day, 374 Pearl-street. 1836. l7 1/2 x 13 cm. 30 p. Illustrations in text. In prose and verse. <<Parley's New-York books for children.>> Blue paper covers with picture of bird on front and list of books for sale by Mahlon Day on back.

PARLEY'S STORIES ABOUT THE CHINESE; AND THEIR SILK MANUFACTORIES [Illustration.] New-York: Mahlon Day, 374 Pearl­street. 1836. 16 x 13 1/2 cm. 32 p. Illustrations in text. <<Parley's New-York books for children.>> Yellow paper cover. Back cover missing.

POEMS FOR THE YOUNG. [Woodcut. 4 lines of verse.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile bookstore, No. 376, Pearl street. n.d. 92 x 54mm. 16 p.Yellow paper covers. Woodcuts in text. On back cover Day advertises books for presents for sale by M. Day, 374 Pearl-st.

RHODE-ISLAND TALES, AND TALES OF OLD TIMES. By a friend to youth, of Newport, R. I. [Illustration.] New-York: Mahlon Day & Co., No. 374 Pearl-street. 1839. 15 x 11 1/2 em. 171 p. including frontispiece. Illustrations in text, some of which are hand-colored. In verse. Imperfect: all of first signature except first leaf is lacking. Appendix (p. [129]-171) has special title page: Little Ellen, and other pleasing poetic stories. By A[bby] L[ee] of Newport, R. I. New-York: Mahlon Day & Co., No. 374 Pearl-street. 1839.

TALES FOR THOMAS, containing The soldiers, The present, The return, The mouse, The dog, Little Barry, The garden, Strawberries, The kite, The black man, by A. C. H. of Newport, R. I. [Illustration. Four lines of verse.] New-York: Mahlon Day, 374 Pearl-street. 1836. 11 x 7 1/2 cm. 16 p. Hand-colored illustrations. In verse. Yellow paper cover has border illustration.

THE TRUE AND WONDERFUL STORY OF PAUL GASFORD, Who, when only about four years old was lost in the woods, and by his own remarkable contrivance and wisdom, after four days' travel, got safe to his parents, at Niagara, 40 miles from the place where he was lost. [Illustration.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile bookstore, No. 376, Pearl-street. n.d. 9 1/2 x 5 1/2 cm. 16 p. Illustrations in text.

THE WARNING CLOCK; OR THE VOICE OF THE NEW YEAR. By the author of "The two lambs," &c. [Illustration. Four lines of verse.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-st. 1832. 10 1/2 x 6 1/2 cm. 18 p. including covers. Frontispiece. Illustrations in text. Yellow paper cover has border illustration.

YOUTHFUL SPORTS. [Woodcut. Four lines of verse.] Stereotyped by James Conner, New York. New-York: Printed & sold by Mahlon Day at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. n.d. 88 x 50 mm. 16 p. Illustrations in text.

THE YOUTH'S NATURAL HISTORY OF ANIMALS. [Illustrations.] New-York: Printed and sold by Mahlon Day, at the new juvenile book-store, No. 376, Pearl-street. 1828. 14 1/2 x 9 cm. 24 p. including heavy paper covers. Woodcut frontispiece and illustrations in text. Tan paper cover with border illustration.