Little Jack of All Trades; or, Mechanical Arts Described, in Prose and Verse, Suited to the Capacities of Children

engraved frontispiece, 11 engraved plates, later half red calf over contemporary marbled boards, 12mo, London, Harvey and Darton, 1823

Little Jack of All Trades is a children’s book that describes and illustrates various trades like blacksmithing, carpentry and weaving, offering a detailed look at tools and techniques. Several of the mechanical arts described are related to book construction including papermaking, engraving, printing and bookbinding.

The trades were a popular subject – what people did and how things were made were described and illustrated with woodcuts, bringing these occupations to life for the young reader.

William Darton (1755 – 1819) was an engraver, stationer and printer in London and with partner Joseph Harvey (1764 – 1841) published books for children and religious tracts. His sons Samuel and William Darton were later active in the business. Darton and Harvey’s books for children always contain plentiful illustrations and, while stylised, are packed with details of clothes, buildings and interiors, conveying a powerful sense of working life in the early 19th century.

[Pollard & Potter]