Visit to Menagerie Zoo animals 1860’s McLoughlin color chromo juvenile book

Visit to the Menagerie Zoo. - Aunt Louisa’s Big Picture series.

Published NY, John McLoughlin c.1860's-70's.

24 pp. counting covers. Nice chromolithography. 

Spine paper split, close to disbound with all pages being loose, string spine mostly lacking, various age flaws, soiling, small staining, edge tears, etc.

This is what a much loved and well read/ handled 19th century juvenile paper book looks like.

The survival rate of 19th century color paper juvenile books such as this is very low, a minuscule percentage (almost certainly under 10% in most cases, probably 1-5% of half of all those originally produced). Some issues scattered all over the place in publishing history may all but no longer exist as copies.

So even if “a lot” were made then, it would still be very modest by most modern standards of production.

Meaning the actual sales run of hand made books like this would have to be measured in low thousands, thus meaning survival rates probably below 100 -200 per title, with variations of course depending upon factors such as size, title, orig. price, condition, etc.

Therefore, all surviving examples of 19th century color juvenile books should be considered inherently scarce and worthy of acquisition on some level, their actual comparative rarity being mostly invisible to the casual observer.

Please inspect pics carefully!

Book measures c. 10 1/2" x 9 1/8".