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
Exhibition Catalog
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 U. of Southern Mississippi
