The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. by Opie, Iona and Peter, Editors - 1952.

London: Oxford University Press Book. Good. Hardcover. 2nd Edition. (1966), xxvii, 467pp, index of first lines, illustrated. Exlib non-circulating, stamp at top page edges and title-page, tape and sticker remains, light wear and soiling, else VG. From the preface: "For the first time Nursery Rhymes have been arranged alphabetically to facilitate easy reference. Most of the rhymes, we believe, will be readily located; while reference to the index at the end which lists the first lines of both the standard text and all the variations quoted, should lead the way to any pieces proving elusive.".

Book Club Associates, London, 1977. Book Club Edition. Hardcover. Very Good Condition/Very Good. Illustrator: Illustrated. preface and introduction by Editors, Acknowledgements, list of illustrations, list of abbreviations, and index of first lines. The text is illustrated with reproductions of numerous contemporary drawings. Blue coloured cloth covered boards with gilt coloured titles to the back strip. Illustrated dustwrapper with black coloured titles to the front panel and back strip. "This dictionary brings together more than 500 rhymes and songs traditionally handled on two young children, and studies their individual history; there age, origins, first appearances in print or manuscript, of all and written development, literary associations, social uses, variations and parallels in other languages." -- from the front fold over the panel blurb. A little softening of the back strip edges with rubbing of the book corners. Very light age toning of the text block edges and… Read More

Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1951. Hardcover. Near Fine. First edition. Slight bubbling to the cloth and a little foxing to the endpapers, else near fine without dustwrapper. From the library of the artists Ben Shahn and Bernarda Bryson Shahn, with an estate label designed by their son, Jonathan Shahn.

Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1952. 2nd Edition . Hardcover. Good. Second edition, with corrections. Hardback, bound in the original cloth boards with gilt titling to spine. 22.5 × 14.5cm, xxvii +467pp. This copy belonged to folklorist Francesca Claremont, and is signed by her to the ffep. She had pasted in relevant newspaper clippings and made some marginal notes throughout. Additionally, there is a 1953 handwritten letter from fellow folklorist Barbara Lowe, who specialised in the folklore of traditional games and dance, and the letter mentions a singing-dance called 'Maiden in the Mor Lay'. She also mentions her current interest is in games, songs, dances etc connected with 'moors, mires, morasses, marshes and their ilk'. This classic dictionary brings together over 500 nursery rhymes, songs, nonsense jingles, lullabies, and rhyming alphabets traditionally handed on to young children. All the items have been arranged alphabetically, from 'A was an apple-pie' to… Read More