The robbers' cave: a tale of Italy (1884) by A.L.O.E., 1821-1893.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
Children's literature emerged as a distinct genre in the 18th century. Victorian publishers soon recognised the importance of 'judging a book by its cover' and began to favour pictorial covers.
Rhinoceros (1515) by Albrecht DürerBritish Museum
For as long as books have been printed (since the early 16th century) they have featured illustrations alongside text. An early method of printing illustrations was using wood cuts, such as Durer’s Rhino.
Designs would be engraved on to blocks of wood, which were then loaded on to a printing press, where they would be brushed with ink to print the design on to paper.
Orbis Sensualium Pictus, hoc est omnium fundamentalium in Mundo rerum et in vita actionum pictura et nomenclatura ; Prima in Dania editio, quae multis in melius et ulilius mutatis, post Latinam, Teutonicam, Gallicam, Italicam et Polonicam Linguan idiomate Danico aucta est in usum Scholarum (etc.) (1672/1672) by Johannes-Amosius ComeniusOriginal source: http://digital.onb.ac.at/OnbViewer/viewer.faces?doc=ABO_%2BZ177524600
Orbis Pictus, or Orbis Sensualium Pictus (1658) by John Amos Comenius is an early example of a textbook for children which used printed illustrations alongside text for an educational purpose.
The printing press (1954 - 2010) by IBM according to Leonardo da VinciCastle of Clos Lucé
In the 1800s innovative Victorians revolutionised the book production process. Identical books could now be mass produced. Prior to this, books were hand-made using printing presses and it was up to the buyer to decide what type of cover to put on the book, to protect the pages.
The children's mirror, or, Which is my likeness? (1859) by Bell, Catherine D.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
In the University of Reading’s Children’s Collection, we have a large collection of Victorian and Edwardian children’s books with decorative cloth bindings and pictorial covers. Originally curtain material was used for this type of binding. You can see the evolution from simple designs...
The coral island: a tale of the Pacific Ocean (1902) by Ballantyne, R.M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
… To more elaborate cover decoration...
Mother Bunch: a story for boys and girls (1905) by Austin, Stella. and Pethybridge, J.Ley.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
… To covers with illustrations that depict scenes from the stories they contain.
The prairie chief : a tale (1900) by Ballantyne, R.M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
Sometimes the same design would be used for different titles. This could be to indicate titles being in the same series and would have also cut costs.
The crew of the Water Wagtail: a story of Newfoundland (1889) by Ballantyne, R.M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
Fighting the flames: a tale of the London Fire Brigade (1868) by Ballantyne, R.M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
There are also examples of the same cover image being used when the title is re-published in later years.
Fighting the flames : a tale of the London fire brigade (1900) by Ballantyne, R.M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
Dust Cover of Maiden CastleOriginal source: The Powys Society
Dust jackets became increasingly popular from the 1920s, though they had already been around for around 100 years.
The big otter : a tale of the great Nor'west (1887) by Ballantyne, R.M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894.Original source: University of Reading Special Collections: Children's Collection
In the University of Reading’s Children’s Collection, we are lucky to have around 6000 books written for children, from the 1700s to the present day. This includes school stories, periodicals, annuals and picture books. Visit us to find out more.
Discover our Children's collection of over 6000 books and journals written for children: https://collections.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/collections/childrens-collection/
Powers, A. (2003). Children's book covers: great book jacket and cover design. London: Mitchell Beazley.
OU. (2017) Exploring books for children: words
and pictures: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/exploring-books-children-words-and-pictures/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab
University of Reading Special Collections Children's Collection: https://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/collections/sc-childrens.aspx
