The Wren; or, the Fairy of the Green-House, Consisting of Song, Story, and Dialogue. Founded Upon Actual Incidents, and Put Together for the Amusement and Instruction of Three Little Boys During the Confinement of Their Mother

London: John Marshall, 1787. Very Good -. London: Printed and Sold by John Marshall, at No. 4, Aldermary Church-Yard, in Bow-Lane, and No. 17, Queen-Street, Cheapside, n.d. [but 1787]. First Edition. Small square 12mo (11cm); publisher's Dutch gilt paper-covered boards; 79pp. (collated complete, first and final leaves used as pastedowns); woodcut frontispiece, vignettes throughout. Boards rubbed along margins, spine mostly perished, brief stripping to rear cover, small contemporary manuscript library label to upper cover; overall Good to Very Good, internally clean and sound.

Very rare children's toy book in verse originally written for three brothers while their mother was busy giving birth to a fourth. The titular wren who keeps the boys company espouses good behavior and obedience and in return will show them "where / Grow the apple, quince and pear." The title page advertises this work bound in two different, luxurious publisher's bindings: the gilt paper (as here) for four-pence or red leather for seven. Three pages of publisher's advertisements for other toy books bound in rear.

ESTC T120217.