The Countries of Europe. [cover title]; Stories About Europe [title page] (Deans' Coloured Nursery Picture Books)

(Early English Imprints) The Countries of Europe. [cover title]; Stories About Europe [title page] (Deans' Coloured Nursery Picture Books). London: Dean & Son, circa 1850. FIRST EDITION. 16mo - 6-11/16" x 5-3/16". Original string-bound green pictorial stiff paper wrappers with an engraving of five people in a pastoral setting and titles printed in black to front wrapper; publisher's advertisement for "Dean & Son's New Series of Nursery and Sunday Books," which includes the title offered in this listing, printed in black to back wrapper. Wrappers with minor soil and stains, and touches of wear to the head and tail of spine fold, but still in remarkably good condition. 28 pp. including wrappers: hand-colored illustrations. Internally in FINE condition. The overall condition of the book is VERY GOOD +. Early Victorian Hand-Colored Toy Book Illustrations These are charming stories for children, told in verse, detailing 14 distinct countries across Europe: France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Lapland, Norway and Sweden, Russia, Turkey, Greece, and England. The volume is beautifully brought to life by eight full-page hand-colored engravings, which includes the illustrated title page printed on the verso of the front wrapper. Dean & Son Publishing & Extraordinary Institutional Scarcity Dean & Son were legendary leaders in early children's publishing, celebrated for their vibrant, hand-colored illustrations and durable, interactive nursery books. EXCEEDINGLY RARE; AS ARE ALL 12 TITLES IN THE DEANS' COLOURED NURSERY PICTURE BOOKS SERIES. Only one copy of this specific title is located on WorldCat (Brigham Young University). (Note on series scarcity: Of the 12 total titles in this elusive series, eight titles are located by a single copy globally, one title is located in just two libraries, and the remaining three titles are located in only three libraries). # 001279