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Teitelman Collection of American Sunday-School Union Woodblocks and Imprints

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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.

Collection Metadata

Title: Teitelman Collection of American Sunday-School Union Woodblocks and Imprints
Description: 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.
Contributor: American Sunday-School Union (Former owner)
Identifier: Islandora:ASSU1

Pages

: ASSU Illustration 1599; Block numbered in two places: 1599., Image of a bird in a natural setting, with houses in the background.

: ASSU Illustration 1602; Block numbered in at least one place: 1602., Image of an unidentified bird, possibly a pigeon in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 1605; Block numbered in two places: 1605., Image of a rhinoceros., Reverse of block also engraved – trial for illustration of a zebu.

: ASSU Illustration 1668; Block numbered in two places: 1668., Image of a well-dressed man in a top hat speaking to two young boys, one on either side of him. One of the boys has put his hands in the air., Tape (inscribed “341”) on obverse.

: ASSU Illustration 1756; Block numbered in one place: 1756., Image of an unidentified flower, with blossom or fruit., "Branston" -- stamped on side of block. Note: at least two engravers named Branston worked in London in the 19th century., Block damaged: wood base has ca. 1 cm. loss in height.

: ASSU Illustration 1976; Block numbered in two places: 1976., Image of a hawk and its three chicks. The hawk is in flight with one of its chicks, and the other two are in the nest.

: ASSU Illustration 2210; L-shaped block numbered in two places: 2210, also 1359 on small adhesive label on back of block, and 3210 inscribed on back of block., Image of a woman descending stairs and carrying a bucket in each hand; she turns toward a boy who sits with an open book atop a trellis-like structure, which runs across the inner edge of the block and has a few long, large curling vines and what appear to either trailing flowers or bunches of fruit.

: ASSU Illustration 2217; Block numbered in two places: 2217, also 1180 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a girl holding her apron or overskirt up with one hand and holding the branch of a tree with another hand, perhaps picking small fruits, nuts, or flowers; beside her on the ground is a basket with a sunbonnet in it., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down piece of paper.

: ASSU Illustration 2253; Block numbered in one place: 2253., Image of a man who appears to be in distress next to a reclining camel. There is another figure on a camel in the background, in a desert setting., Tape (inscribed “278”) on obverse. There is also a note inscribed “Duplicate Numbers” on obverse., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 2285; Block numbered in two places: 2285., Image of a frog [?] in a natural setting.

: ASSU Illustration 2303; Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Image of two seated women who appear to be playing tambourines, possibly in a graveyard., Illustration appears in The pictorial Sunday book: designed for the use of families, Bible classes, and Sunday School teachers: derived principally from the manners and customs of the Jews ; the rites, traditions, and antiquities, of eastern nations, explanatory of many portions of the Old and New Testaments together with interesting descriptions of the principal places mentioned in the Bible, illustrated by numerous landscape scenes, from sketches taken on the spot (New York, 1846), p. 322. Caption of illustration - "Mourning women.", Tape (inscribed “1832”) on obverse., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 2349; Block numbered in two places: 2349., Image of a classroom or other social scene [?] Quill pens and books are on a table in the background. Posters and map [?] are on the wall., Tape (inscribed "1175") on obverse., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 2619; Block numbered in one place: 2619, also 1302 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a man with shoulder-length hair wearing breeches and stockings sitting on a chair turned sideways beside a table; he holds a quill in the hand resting on the table and places the other hand on the head of a young girl who stands at his side., Signed: Vanartsdalen [i.e., James Vanartsdalen?]

: ASSU Illustration 2761; Block numbered in two places: 2761., Image of one man holding an axe upright while another looks on and a third man drag what appears to be a log or felled tree; three hats and a basket sit on the ground., Signed: W. Baker [i.e., William Deal Baker?]., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., “M.s.” – Inscribed on back of block.

: ASSU Illustration 2843; Block numbered in one place: 2843., Image of a bulldog., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 2856; Block numbered in two places: 2856., Image of a man with a cane conversing with two boys, who are both on ladders. The boys appear to be hanging a banner., Block has an open space for printed type., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3064; Block numbered in one place: 3064., Image of a bee.

: ASSU Illustration 3116; Block numbered in two places: 3116., Image of the earth and the sun., Illustration appears in Infant Scripture Library (Philadelphia, 1857-1907?), p. 1., Illustration also appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p. 45., Illustration also appears in Stories for little ears (Philadelphia, 1857), p. 31.

: ASSU Illustration 3137; Block numbered in two places: 3137, also 1233 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two men conversing in a street; one wearing a top hat gestures toward an older man in a flat brim hat who leans on his cane ; several figures are visible walking further down the street toward buildings including a church., Writing inscribed on back of block – defaced, illegible.

: ASSU Illustration 3163; Block numbered in one place: 3163., Image of Moses seated, holding the Ten Commandments while rays of light shine on him., Illustration appears in Four Seasons, Child's home library series no. 10 (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1870?), p.13., Illustration also appears in James and Sisters, Child's home library series no. 11, (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1870?), p. 7., Illustration also appears in Man lost and saved (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1907?), p. 8. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1853 to at least 1893., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3201; Block numbered in two places: 3201., Image of a lamb reclining on an architectural element., Illustration appears in Man lost and saved (Philadelphia, 1852), p. 7. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1853 to at least 1893.

: ASSU Illustration 3209; Block numbered in one place: 3209, also 1908 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a girl reading a book on a slope under fruit trees.

: ASSU Illustration 3229; Block numbered in one place: 3229, also 163 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two girls looking over their shoulders at a woman entering the room., Illustration appears in The Book of one hundred pictures (Philadelphia, between 1861 and 1907?), p. 81.

: ASSU Illustration 3248; Block numbered in two places: 3248 (4 printed over other faint 8 in one place), also 1896 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a man in a top hat speaking to a boy; the boy places his hand on the man’s hand, which rests on a walking stick; the man gestures with his other hand toward two men who tie a string around a small tree and a supporting piece of wood stuck in the ground.

: ASSU Illustration 3261; Block numbered in two places: 3261., Image of a chimpanzee holding onto a branch in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.7.

: ASSU Illustration 3265; Block numbered in two places: 3265., Image of an eagle perched on a branch in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.8., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3267; Block numbered in two places: 3267., Image of a goat running in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p. 9.

: ASSU Illustration 3270; Block numbered in at least one place: 3270., Image of a jackal in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.10., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3271; Block numbered in two places: 3271., Image of a kite flying over a barn, a few trees, and a church. Kites (known as "red kite") were formerly common in England, Scotland, and Wales., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.10., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3272; Image of a lion stalking its prey, in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.10., Illustration also appears in The Show of animals (Philadelphia, between 1832 and 1860?), p. 6. The Show of animals was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from May 1832 to July 1860., Inscribed on one side of the block with the letter ‘L’., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3275; Block numbered in two places: 3275., Image of an owl in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.11.

: ASSU Illustration 3278; Block numbered in at least one place: 3278., Image of a robin perched on a branch, in a natural setting., Inscribed on one side of block with the letter ‘R’., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.12., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3282; Block numbered in two places: 3282., Image of a vulture in a natural setting with pyramids in the background., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.14., Inscribed on the side of the block: 'V' and ‘ed. Spel. Book.’

: ASSU Illustration 3283; Block numbered in two places: 3283., Image of a wolf on a ledge in a mountain setting., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p. 14.

: ASSU Illustration 3294; Block numbered in two places: 3294 (3 and 2 defaced), also 1367 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two women, both holding pieces of fabric, perhaps blankets or laundry; one is seated and the other stands behind her.

: ASSU Illustration 3317; Block numbered in one place: 3317, also 845 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a seated man and woman regarding the gesture or entrance of a standing man in an entryway; the standing man wears a flowing garment and holds one hand in front of his chest and the other in the air; the man and woman sit on a sofa with an elaborately-carved arm and a footstool; behind them is a curtain or hanging; possibly a Biblical scene., Back of block obscured by pasted-down paper.

: ASSU Illustration 3344; Block numbered in two places: 3344, also 402 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a boy on a rocking horse, holding a small whip; two children and an infant look on: one child standing, a younger child sitting on the floor with a large top, and an infant in a woman's arms., Illustration also appears in The Sunday-school anniversary (Philadelphia, 1824, p. 26.

: ASSU Illustration 3351; Block printed in two places: 3351., Image of a young boy holding what appears to be a lioness or panther by the neck with one hand, and dangling what may be a bunch of grapes in the air with his other hand; vines run up one side of the image., Illustration appears in Rhymes for the nursery (Philadelphia, 1865), p. 166.

: ASSU Illustration 3352; Block numbered in two places: 3352, also 781 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two men wearing turbans on an elephant stabbing a jumping tiger; one sits astride the elephant facing forward and the other sits sideways in the other direction, turning his torso to fight off the tiger.

: ASSU Illustration 3363; Block numbered in two places: 3363, also 717 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a man grasping the throat of a woman and making a fist with his other hand while two small children attempt to restrain him; a table, a chair, a tankard, and other objects are overturned on the floor; a second woman standing in the doorway waves one of her arms.

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