Infantine Knowledge, A Spelling Book, c. 1850, with Letter from Salem Jail! antique botanical painting What especially drew me to

What especially drew me to it was the pineapples

both formally (among other influences

With carefully  handwritten in capital letters attributions on each that I think makes them extra good--and in this case the combination of bird and lettering could really not be any better

also called Japanned) tin spice boxes like this

with the banded areas revealing unglazed clay decorated with geometric patterns in black and blue and red circles

Infantine Knowledge, A Spelling Book, c. 1850, with Letter from Salem Jail! antique botanical painting What especially drew me toThe second of two early children's books this week both special ones, found at the Deerfield show as part of New Hampshire Antiques week. The title page here appears to be missing but I know this copy of Infantine Knowledge, published by C. S. Francis & Co, Boston, dates to 1850 or so, and it too is a rare one. I fell in love with the alphabets at front, including the dark red on the partially (and emphatically!) hand painted one, and especially the