Vintage Alphabet Books Revisited

I have always been a fan of rare, vintage and out of print books, however their cost has never been within my reach. This is why is love Project Gutenberg, an online community dedicated to making rare and out of print books accessible to people. I spend many hours browsing through their catalogues for vintage books I can't find where I live. I read a lot of e-books, not because I prefer them to paperbacks, but because they are easier to find and they definitely cost less. Anyway, today I though of looking through their calligraphy and lettering section and I stumbled upon a collection of  antique alphabet books for children. I was amazed by how witty and well made they were, and I thought I should share some of them with you!

My first find was Kate Greenaway's A Apple Pie. It is  an alphabet book with a short of a story. Kate Greenaway managed to deliver a new sense of the alphabet. The children learn the letters while compiling, sentence by sentence ,a story. Her beautiful illustrations are witty and colourful. 

My second find is Dame Wonder's Amusing Alphabet. The moment I saw the following photo, I just knew I had to make my own alphabet book. Of course it is not going to have that vintage look but I bet it is something my students will enjoy. 

The Absurd ABC, has a funny, witty disposition we don't find in alphabet books these days. 

Next I came across with Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes by Crane, Gilbert, Tenniel, Weir, and Zwecker. It is a compilation of the most popular nursery rhymes but is also offers really breathtaking illustrations. I really like the fact that letters are personified and that aspects of one's personality that would be characterised as negative are depicted with great sense of Humour. They remind me of Edward Gorey. 

Finally I came across with a book so aesthetically pleasing that I have to get a copy of this somehow! It is called the Fire Side Picture Alphabet, and it is certainly one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen. The colours are amazing and the text so well written, I wish I was a child when it was first published. 

The little sweep has washed his face,

But not as we advise;

For black as soot he's made the soap,

And rubbed it in his eyes.

Here's Master Mack presenting fruit,

Of which he makes display;

He knows he'll soon have Lucy's rope,

And with it skip away.

Here's Topsy-Turvy, upside down,

The ceiling seems the base;

Reverse the ground and 'twill be found

The things are out of place.

All these wonderful pictures from books made me want to start my own alphabet book and card series which is now under way. Of course they are not going to look like that... However given the help of some good people that have made several fonts and released them as public domain fonts, I was able to get started. My first attempt is already finished. All that remains is for me to print them out and get started preparing them for my lessons!