Based in Philadelphia, the American Sunday-School Union was the most prolific publisher of children's books in 19th-century America. The Union illustrated its books and periodicals copiously, mainly with wood engravings. The original woodblocks were used through multiple printings and retained by the Union. 

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ASSU Illustration 49
Block numbered in three places: 49., Image of four people dressed in flowing garments, one person pouring liquid from one vessel into another, with the help of a second person; a third person stands close by, also holding a vessel; a fourth person is depicted on the stairs in the background., Signed in reverse: G.G. [i.e., George Gilbert]., Tape (inscribed "1757") on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 50
Block numbered in two places: 50., Image of a street scene. There are two men in a doorway, with a crowd outside. Two men outside the door are on their knees, and appear to be beseeching one of the men in the doorway. Most of the crowd appears to consist mainly of soldiers., Signed in reverse: G.G. [i.e., George Gilbert?]., Tape (inscribed “1693”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 51
Block numbered in three places: 51., Image of a man lying on the ground, while another attends to him in apparent alarm, and another appears to be running but is also looking at the man on the ground with concern., Signed in reverse: G.G. [i.e., George Gilbert?]., Tape (inscribed “1759”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 62
Block numbered in two places: 62; also numbered: 580[?] and 5850[?]., Image of a girl in front of a spider web outdoors; the girl holds a book in her hand; the woman behind her holds the girl’s shoulder with one hand and points toward the spider web with the other., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” – Stamped on back of block twice. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., “Child & Spider Web” – Inscribed on back of block., Illustration appears in New book of two hundred pictures, p. 79., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 75
Image of a duck in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 86
Block numbered in two places: 86., Image of two birds in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 87
Block numbered in two places: 87., Image of a pigeon [?] in a natural setting., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 105
Block numbered in three places: 105., Image of a standing elephant, holding a branch in its trunk, in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Show of animals (Philadelphia, between 1832 and 1860?), p. 14. The Show of animals was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from May 1832 to July 1860., Illustration also appears in The Book of one hundred pictures (Philadelphia, between 1861 and 1907?), p. 92., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 115
Block numbered in one place: 115., Image of two well-dressed men on horseback in a natural setting. One of the men has a bird on his wrist, and points with the other hand toward what appears to be a walled city in the distance., Attributed to George H. Matthews & John Robinson by S. Robert Teitelman. George Matthews was in a partnership with John Robinson between 1867 and 1869., Tape (inscribed “1807”) on obverse., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 129
Block numbered in one place: 129., Image of three men in a natural setting. Two of the men are conversing next to a horse. One of them is pointing towards what appears to be a distant church, while the third man brings two horses toward his companions., Signed in reverse: Matthews-Robinson SC [i.e. George H. Matthews and John Robinson]. George Matthews was in a partnership with John Robinson between 1867 and 1869., Tape (inscribed “1833”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 132
Block numbered in one place: 132., Image of two well-dressed men on horseback, and two cloaked men walking alongside them in a natural setting. Two of the men appear to be in conversation., Attributed to George H. Matthews & John Robinson by S. Robert Teitelman. George Matthews was in a partnership with John Robinson between 1867 and 1869., Tape (inscribed “1812”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 136
Block numbered in one place: 136., Image of five people in an interior setting, four women and one man. Three of the women are standing behind a table, and the other is seated. All the women appear very startled to see the man, who is cloaked, entering the room., Signed in reverse: Matthews-Robinson SC [i.e. George H. Matthews and John Robinson]. George Matthews was in a partnership with John Robinson between 1867 and 1869., Tape (inscribed “1498”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 137
Block numbered in one place: 137., Image of three men on horseback riding towards a settlement [?] where there appears to be a group of soldiers and a man waving to those on horseback., Signed in reverse: Matthews-Robinson SC [i.e. George H. Matthews and John Robinson]. George Matthews was in a partnership with John Robinson between 1867 and 1869., Tape (inscribed “1739”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 148
Block numbered in one place: 148 ; block also numbered 932 (now defaced)., Image of a group of people outside of a log cabin in a forest. In the foreground, a boy appears to be tending to a cooking pot. Most of the other figures are sitting or reclining outside the cabin door., Signed in reverse: Close and J Dalziel., Tape (inscribed “1828”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 204
Block numbered in one place: 204., Image of two men at a table indoors; the older man sits and regards the younger man, who stands while holding a book on the table in one hand and gesturing with the other hand; a mantel with decorations, a painting of a ship, a shelf with a pot, and an open window are behind them., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 312
Block numbered in one place: 312., Image of a five people in a canoe, in a moderate sized body of water, under a full moon., Signed: Kilburn & Close del., Tape (inscribed “1834”) on obverse., Back partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 327
Block numbered in one place: 327., Image of a woman and child in a forest. They appear to be observing a woman who is asleep or unconscious on the ground., Signed: Kilburn SC & Close., “Into the Highwa[?] Chap. XVIII?” -- inscribed on side of block., Tape (inscribed “1808”) on obverse., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 341
Block numbered in one place: 341, also 1844 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of four children standing in a doorway, regarding a small boy who stands outside; the child in front holds a kerosene lamp in one hand and extends his other hand toward the boy outside; a smaller girl peeks out from behind the back of the boy with the lamp; the four children seem to be wearing nightgowns, but the child outside the door is dressed in a shirt, pants, and a hat., Signed: Kilburn [i.e. Samuel Smith Kilburn?]., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 352
Block numbered in two places: 352., Image of a decorative frame, with drapery and floral elements, surrounding a bookcase., Block has an open space for printed type., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 490
Block numbered in two places: 490., Image of several children in a street outside doorways of what appear to be two row houses; four girls, one smaller and younger, pursue or follow a waving girl hurrying down the street; two boys leaning against a building look on and one holds his hat aloft; in the foreground is a post or street lamp., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 606
Block numbered in two places: 606., Image of an courtroom scene. It appears to depict the defendant, looking downcast, a lawyer speaking before at least one judge, and an audience., “Court Room” inscribed on tape on side of block., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 719
Block numbered in two places: 719 ; another number on side of block has been defaced., Image of an unidentified flower., Housed with fragment of another stereotype., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 852
Block numbered in two places: 852., Image of a one lamb standing, one reclining in the background in a natural setting., Illustration appears in Kindness to animals, or the sin of cruelty exposed (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1907?), tailpiece, p. 17., “Kindness to animals, or the sin of cruelty exposed” was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1846 to at least 1893., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Illustration also appears in History of beasts (Philadelphia, 1854 to 1857?), p. 9., Illustration also appears in Four seasons, Child's home library series no. 10 (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1870?), p. 9., Illustration also appears in Child's world, vol. 4 no. 2, p. 4., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 873
Block numbered in three places: 873., Image of a Sunday-school building with a teacher surrounded by girls in the doorway, and two boys in the foreground (one holding a book)., Illustration appears in The Design and importance of Sabbath-schools (Philadelphia, not before 1827?), wrapper vignette., Illustration appears in Select poetry, for children (Philadelphia, not before 1845?), p. 11., A similar illustration appears in The sailor's daughter (New York: Sunday-School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1846), p. 8., Copy 2, stereotype (4.8 x 6.2 x 2.3 cm.), Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 875
Block numbered in two places: 875., Image of many boats in a harbor in the midst of a battle; the boats in the foreground are all powered by many rowers; some of these boats have sails and some do not; several boats and a tower crowded with man figures fly a flag with three crescents (i.e. the flag of the Ottoman Empire); ships with several sails are visible in the distance; possible a crusade scene., Provenance:, Variant:
ASSU Illustration 1203
Block numbered in four places: 1203, also 991 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a seated woman facing a young standing boy; the boy wears a skirted outfit and stands in front of a large decorative urn., Signed: Spittall [i.e., John Spittall.] John Spittall was active in Philadelphia from 1837 through ca. 1860.
ASSU Illustration 1325
Image of three men conversing on a street outside of a theater (“Theatre”).
ASSU Illustration 1408
Block numbered in two places: 1408., Image of men lecturing a large group of boys in an interior setting. Most of the children are sitting on benches, and there are at least three adults scattered throughout the room instucting the children. The adults and some of the children have books in their hands. One of the boys is standing up, and appears to be being reprimanded by an adult., ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’ -- appears in a box in the upper corner of the block., Block has been damaged, and has cracks in multiple places., Signed in reverse: G.G. [i.e., George Gilbert?]
ASSU Illustration 1493
Block numbered in at least one place: 1493., Image of a long-legged wader bird standing in a natural setting.
ASSU Illustration 1552
Block numbered in two places: 1552., Image of a rhinoceros in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 1553
Block numbered in two places: 1553., Image of a two doves [?] in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.47.
ASSU Illustration 1555
Block numbered in two places: 1555., Image of herons [?] in a natural setting, one in the foreground, one in the background., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 1564
Block numbered in two places: 1564., Image of a hyena [?] in a desert setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 1568
Block numbered in two places: 1568., Image of an unidentified bird in a natural setting., There has been talc added to the surface of the block., Tape (inscribed “1670”) on obverse.
ASSU Illustration 1571
Block numbered in one place: 1571., Image of an ostrich in a natural setting.
ASSU Illustration 1576
Block numbered in one place: 1576., Image of a duck in a barnyard or farm setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Illustration appears in The Book of one hundred pictures (Philadelphia, between 1861 and 1907?), p. 93.
ASSU Illustration 1583
Block numbered in at least one place: 1583., Image of a quail in the foreground, and another in the background. There is a building in the background as well., Tape (inscribed “774”) on obverse., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 1586
Block numbered in one place: 1586., Image of a jackal in a natural setting with a crescent moon overhead., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Illustration appears in The Book of one hundred pictures (Philadelphia, between 1861 and 1907?), p. 91.
ASSU Illustration 1589
Block numbered in two places: 1589., Image of two men at night, outside an oyster bar on a street. There is a theater (“Theatre”) nearby, with a crowd of people outside it.
ASSU Illustration 1592
Block numbered in two places: 1592., Image of a dog in profile, in a natural setting, with mountains in the background.

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