The Fox Collection

The Collection

This collection of more than 2,000 early British and American children's books was given to the library in 1978 by George M. Fox of East Charlemont, Massachusetts. The collection is notable for the pristine condition of its mostly nineteenth century books which include many early color illustrations—including color wood engraving, chromolithographs and hand-painted books. Many of these books are fragile, paper pamphlets that reveal vivid color when opened—still brilliant after more than one hundred years. They would not have survived routine handling by children, and we are fortunate they were preserved. Highlights of the collection include “toy” and “moveable” books; examples from the shop of Edmund Evans, the premier nineteenth century printer of color wood engravings (whose most notable artists were Walter Crane, Kate Greenaway and Randolph Caldecott); and many examples of fine British printing from the firms of Thomas Nelson & Sons, Frederick Warne, Dean & Son and George Routledge & Sons.

Box & Folder List

The Gallery

Click to see the catalog record and link to the digitized book.

A Brief History of the George M. Fox Collection of Early Children’s Books

George M. Fox

Exhibition Catalog

Ed Amuse

More About the Fox Collection

Selections from the George M. Fox Collection of Early Children's Books by Laura Wasowicz

Educate! Amuse! In Color! by Alastair Johnston

Early Children's Books by Ruth McGurk

McLoughlin Bros. at the American Antiquarian Society

McLoughlin Bros. at the American Antiquarian Society

McLoughlin Bros. at the U. of Southern Mississippi

McLoughlin Bros. at the U. of Southern Mississippi