Bookseller Of The Last Century

The author of the article, Charles Welsh, writes about the life and work of John Newbery, who was a publisher and businessman in the 1800s. Newbery is best known for his children's books, such as A Little Pretty Pocket-Book and Little Goody Two-Shoes, but he also published books for adults and newspapers. Welsh also writes about Newbery's involvement in the selling of patent medicines, which was a side business of his. The author includes a summary of Francis Newbery's autobiography, which is a detailed account of his father's life and work. The book also includes a number of appendices, including John Newbery's will and lists of his publications.

Charles Welsh's account of the achievements of John Newbery was first published in 1885. Newbery is best known as the pioneering publisher of good-quality children's books such as A Little Pretty Pocket-Book and Little Goody Two-Shoes. In many ways he can be regarded as the first publisher who created and marketed books specifically for children. He was an associate of Samuel Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith, and founded a number of newspapers that published some of their works. Welsh also draws attention to a less well known aspect of Newbery's diverse business ventures: his involvement in the selling of patent medicines. The author chronicles the immediate successors to the Newbery business and includes a lengthy summary of the son Francis Newbery's autobiography. The illustrated book contains a number of appendices including John Newbery's will, lists of his publications and some of the newspapers with which he was associated.