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 4475
Block numbered in two places: 4475., Image of a scorpion [?]
ASSU Illustration 4512
Block numbered in two places: 4512, also 1613 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two men, one seated and one standing; the standing man faces the seated man, resting one hand on a table and extending his other hand slightly; the seated man appears to regard the other with fear or sadness; behind the seated man is a candelabra, and a top hat has either been dropped and falls through the air or rests at an angle on some surface not visible in the image., Signed: H.D.
ASSU Illustration 4634
Block numbered in one place: 4634, also 1610 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a woman sitting or leaning against a cast iron fence enclosing a courtyard with leafless trees; the woman wears a bonnet and rests one hand on her neck.
ASSU Illustration 4644
Block numbered in two places: 4644., Image of a man in a uniform speaking with a man on a horse; man in uniform gesturing behind himself; house shown in distance., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Side of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4690
Block numbered in two places: 4690., Image of an unidentified bird perched on a branch in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.”—Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 4694
Block numbered in two places: 4694., Image of a man sitting and writing., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper; paper partially obscures impression of N.J. Wemmer [?].
ASSU Illustration 4714
Block numbered in two places: 4714., Image of Jesus praying. He is kneeling with his hands folded across his chest, as rays of light shine down., ‘The Bright Shining Garments’ -- caption of block., Illustration appears in Stories of the good shepherd, p. 150. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1857 to at least 1893., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4731
Block numbered in one place: 4731., Image of a group of women in a garden., ‘The Women In The Garden’ -- caption of block., Illustration appears in Stories of the good shepherd, p. 280. In the story, the women are those who were accompanying Mary, taking spices and ointments to put about the body of Jesus. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1857 to at least 1893., Illustration also appears in Historias de bom pastor, p. 220. Caption of illustration -- "As mulheres no Jardin.", Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4736
Block numbered in two places: 4736., Image of a man carrying a cross, surrounded by an angry mob., ‘The Cross & The Dying Thief’ -- caption of block., Illustration appears in Stories of the good shepherd, p. 250. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1857 to at least 1893., Illustration also appears in Historias do bom pastor, p. 196. Caption of illustration -- "A cruz e o Ladrao moribundo.", Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4739
Block numbered in one place: 4739., Image of a man praying on his knees in a garden. There appear to be two other human figures seated in the background., ‘The Garden On The Mount’ -- caption of block., Illustration appears in Stories of the good shepherd, p. 220. In the story, the man is Jesus, visiting the garden one last time before his death. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1857 to at least 1893., Illustration also appears in Life of Christ, p. 239., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4753
Block numbered in two places: 4753., Image of a man standing next to a pump; a sign above him reads: Half way house., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” – Stamped on back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 4763
Block numbered in one place: 4763., Image of an ostrich and two of its chicks in a natural setting., “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.
ASSU Illustration 4794
Block numbered in two places: 4794., Image of three men in front of a sign that says “Beer”; one stands and appears to hold a cigarette in his hand, and looks over his shoulder at a seated man; the seated man has his legs crossed and arms folded, and appears to have a cigarette in his mouth; another kneels and writes “Bhoys” [i.e., Bowery boys, working class men from the Five Points neighborhood in New York] on the ground with a stick or piece of chalk.
ASSU Illustration 4808
Block numbered in two places: 4808., Image of a cherub resting on an architectural element.
ASSU Illustration 4840
Block numbered in one place: 4840., Image of a chickadee [?] perched on a branch, in a natural setting.
ASSU Illustration 4896
Block numbered in two places: 4896., Image of an unidentified bird perched on the branch of a plant, in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4906
Block numbered in two places: 4906., Image of a sandpiper [?] perched on a rock in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4924
Block numbered in one place: 4924., Image of a flower in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 4925
Block numbered in at least one place: 4925., Image of a tiger crouching in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Show of animals (Philadelphia, between 1832 and 1860?), p. 4., The Show of animals was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from May 1832 to July 1860., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4940
Block numbered in one place: 4940., Image of a bird perched on a branch in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4945
Block numbered in two places: 4945., Image of a fish in a water setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4950
Block numbered in two places: 4950., Image of a sparrow [?] perched on a branch in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila." -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4980
Block numbered in two places: 4980., Image of a fox in a natural setting., "Fox..." -- Inscribed on side of block., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 4982
Block numbered in two places: 4982., Image of an otter [?] in a natural setting., "Spel. Book. Ichne…" -- Inscribed on side of block., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.”—Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 4984
Block numbered in two places: 4984., Image of a turtle in a natural setting., "Spel. Book. Turtle." -- Inscribed on one side of block., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila." -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 4985
Block numbered in two places: 4985., Image of a salmon in a natural setting, next to water, on top of vegetation., Illustration appears in Rhymes for the nursery (Philadelphia, 1865), p. 145., “Spel. Book. Salmon.” -- Inscribed on side of block., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 5041
Block numbered in one place: 5041., Image of an unidentified bird perched on a branch, with a building in the background., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 5074
Block numbered in at least one place: 5074., Image of five rabbits in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Illustration appears in Rhymes for the nursery (Philadelphia, 1865), p. 23. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogs from April 1866 to at least 1893., Illustration also appears in The Peasant and his guest (Philadelphia, 1862), p. 28. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from 1864 to at least 1893., Illustration also appears in Child's world, vol. 14, no. 10 p.4., Illustration also appears in Child's world vol. 6 no. 8 p. 4.
ASSU Illustration 5132
Block numbered 5132 in two places., Image of two children and animals. The letter “W” is in an upper corner., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” – Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block formerly obscured by pasted-down paper (now detached).
ASSU Illustration 5136
Block numbered in two places: 5136., Image of three unidentified birds perched in a tree in a natural setting., “N.J. W..mer” [i.e. Nelson J. Wemmer] -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 5224
Numbered in two places: 5224., Image of a seated woman handing flowers to a boy in bed., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” – Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 5235
Block numbered in two places: 5235 ; block restamped 5335 in both places., Image of an leopard crouching in a natural setting., Illustration appears in The Show of animals (Philadelphia, between 1832 and 1860?), p. 2., The Show of animals was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from May 1832 to July 1860., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila." -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 5236
Block numbered in two places: 5236., Image of a black bear in a natural setting, walking towards a tree., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 5237
Block numbered in two places: 5237., Image of a ocelot crouched on a tree branch in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
ASSU Illustration 5240
Block numbered in two places: 5240., Image of a tiger crouched in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 5242
Block numbered in one place: 5242., Image of a cat in an interior setting. In the background, there is a vase containing flowers on a curtained windowsill., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., ASSU Illustration 7248 Illustration appears in Child’s world, v. 29 no. 8 (1872), p. 2.
ASSU Illustration 5244
Block numbered in at least one place: 5244., Image of a cheetah crouching in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., Partially illegible inscription on side of block: Book of ....
ASSU Illustration 5245
Block numbered in two places: 5245., Image of a lynx in a natural setting., "The Book of Animals. The Lynx." -- Inscribed on side of block., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
ASSU Illustration 5247
Block numbered in two places: 5247., Image of a wolf in a natural setting.
ASSU Illustration 5248
Block numbered in two places: 5248., Image of a wolf howling in a natural setting., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.

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