## History of "Rural Scenes; or, A Peep into the Country" (Cooperstown, H. & E. Phinney, 1829)

### Overview

**"Rural Scenes; or, A Peep into the Country"** is a small children's book first published in the early 19th century. The 1829 edition you referenced was printed and sold in Cooperstown, New York, by the publishing house of H. & E. Phinney, a prominent name in early American printing and publishing.

### Authorship and Origins

- The book was originally written by **Ann Taylor** and **Jane Taylor**, two English sisters renowned for their contributions to children's literature, including the famous poem "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"[1][2][3].
- The first edition of "Rural Scenes" appeared in London in 1805, published by Harvey and Darton. It was part of a movement to provide moral and educational reading for children, often in the form of poetry and short prose[4][5].

### The American Edition

- The 1829 Cooperstown edition was part of a wave of British children's books reprinted for the American market. H. & E. Phinney, the publisher, was known for producing affordable, accessible books for families and children, including primers, storybooks, and Bibles[6][7].
- The Phinney firm, founded by Elihu Phinney and later run by his sons Henry and Elihu Jr., was a major force in early American publishing. Their print shop in Cooperstown became a hub for distributing books throughout the region and beyond, using both wagons and canal boats to reach rural communities[6][8].

### Significance

- The book reflects early 19th-century values, emphasizing rural life, nature, and moral lessons for children. Its content typically includes poems and short stories about country living, animals, and the virtues of simplicity and hard work[2].
- The Phinney editions are notable for their role in spreading literacy and educational materials in the young United States, especially in rural areas where books were scarce[6][8].

### Collectibility and Rarity

- Early American children's books, especially those printed outside major cities, are now quite rare. The 1829 Cooperstown edition by H. & E. Phinney is a collectible artifact, valued for its historical significance and as an example of early American printing[9][7].

### Summary Table

| Feature                | Details                                                                 |
|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Title                  | Rural Scenes; or, A Peep into the Country                               |
| Authors                | Ann Taylor & Jane Taylor                                                |
| First Published        | 1805 (London, Harvey & Darton)                                          |
| American Edition       | 1829 (Cooperstown, H. & E. Phinney)                                     |
| Genre                  | Children's literature, poetry, moral tales                              |
| Publisher's Significance | Major early American publisher, known for Bibles and children's books  |
| Collectibility         | Rare and valued among collectors of early American children's books      |

### Further Context

- The Phinney family’s publishing house was instrumental in making books available to a broad American audience, and their editions are often cited in bibliographies of early American children’s literature[6][7].
- The book’s content and style are representative of the period’s didactic approach to children’s reading, blending entertainment with instruction[2][5].

If you have the physical book, it is a tangible piece of early American literary and publishing history.

Sources
[1] Rural Scenes or a Peep into the Country for Children by [Ann https://jacksonbibliography.library.utoronto.ca/book/details/rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country-for-children/2260
[2] Untitled https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/person/509.rdf
[3] Rural scenes : or A peep into the country. For children (Hardcover) https://www.abebooks.co.uk/first-edition/Rural-scenes-peep-country-children-Taylor/31787403243/bd
[4] Water, Water… - Jane Austen's London https://janeaustenslondon.com/2019/03/09/water-water/
[5] Ann and Jane Taylor, Signor Topsy-Turvy's Wonderful Magic Lantern https://hockliffe.dmu.ac.uk/items/0777.html
[6] Elihu Phinney - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elihu_Phinney
[7] Four Authentic Reproductions of Children's Books: Originally Printed ... https://books.google.com/books/about/Four_Authentic_Reproductions_of_Children.html?id=LNGuzwEACAAJ
[8] History of Cooperstown | Baseball Hall of Fame https://baseballhall.org/media/cooperstown-new-york
[9] RURAL SCENES; Or, A Peep Into the Country. For Children. https://www.bluemountainbooks.com/product/180764/RURAL-SCENES-Or-A-Peep-Into-the-Country-For-Children
[10] image.jpg https://pplx-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/v1751822721/user_uploads/265100/823b546f-dcee-4d25-bd21-e44a81e0f03b/image.jpg
[11] 1973 v18 No 3 Fall - Botanical Society of America https://www.botany.org/psbarchive/issue/1973-v18-no-3.html
[12] The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Story of Cooperstown https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18621.html.images
[13] [PDF] A Bibliography American Children's Books Printed Prior to 1821 https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44497933.pdf
[14] phinney bible - eBay https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=phinney+bible
[15] [PDF] A Bibliography American Children V Books Printed Prior to 1821 https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44604987.pdf
[16] Rural Scenes; or, a peep into the country, for children. https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/9949718203506421
[17] Books Antique Geography Rare $500 to $1,000 - Murray Hudson https://antiquemapsandglobes.com/Books/Antique/Geography/Rare/$500-to-$1,000?MinimumPrice=500&MaximumPrice=1000
[18] TAYLOR (JANE and ANN) Rural Scenes or a Peep into ... - Bonhams https://www.bonhams.com/auction/14500/lot/1022/taylor-jane-and-ann-rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country-for-children/
[19] [PDF] AMERICAN PRIMERS - LexisNexis https://www.lexisnexis.com/documents/academic/upa_cis/3453_americanprimers.pdf
[20] Phinney Bible · McKay Library Special Collections https://archives.byui.edu/s/public/item/2771
[21] [PDF] Joseph Smith, Captain Kidd Lore, and Treasure-Seeking in New ... https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V46N03_412b.pdf
[22] Cooperstown Phinney Holy Bible 1828 - Moons Rare Books https://moons-rare-books.myshopify.com/products/1828-cooperstown-phinney-holy-bible
[23] Rural Scenes; or, A Peep into the Country, for ... - Keogh's Books https://shop.keoghsbooks.com/shop/rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country-for-children-2/
[24] Joseph Smith's Cooperstown Bible: The Historical Context of https://scripturecentral.org/archive/periodicals/journal-article/joseph-smiths-cooperstown-bible-historical-context-bible-used-joseph-smith-translation
[25] Rural Scenes: Or, a Peep into the Country, for Good Children - WPHP https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/title/9565
[26] The chronicles of Cooperstown - Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofcoop00coop
[27] Rural Scenes, or, a Peep into the Country for Children. - WPHP https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/title/9478
[28] Rural Scenes, or, a Peep into the Country by [Ann Taylor, Ja https://jacksonbibliography.library.utoronto.ca/book/details/rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country/21556
[29] Guide for authors - Journal of Rural Studies - ScienceDirect.com https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-rural-studies/publish/guide-for-authors
[30] Gilbert Ann Taylor Jane - AbeBooks https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/author/gilbert-ann-taylor-jane/
[31] Pastoral Influence in the English Drama - jstor https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/456249.pdf
[32] The Minervian Library and Children's Social Authorship in Victorian ... https://academic.oup.com/jvc/article/27/3/477/6634938
[33] [PDF] American Notes for General Circulation PREFACE TO THE FIRST ... http://www.dickens.jp/etexts/dickens/others/American.pdf
[34] The history of the children in the wood. An affecting tale. - WPHP https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/title/17417
[35] Culture and Agriculture in America - jstor https://www.jstor.org/stable/1898147
[36] Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper by (Children's Books ... https://www.abebooks.com/Cinderella-Little-Glass-Slipper-Childrens-Books/30619992336/bd
[37] Taylor, Jane - Jackson Bibliography of Romantic Poetry https://jacksonbibliography.library.utoronto.ca/author/details/taylor-jane/14014
[38] Vintage H&E Phinney Reproduction Childrens Books Cooperstown ... https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/374653600994?itmmeta=01JR695BFG4XRHSTP2BN42TK9B&hash=item573b1844e2%3Ag%3ArccAAOSwRBZimgVf
[39] 19th century acting editions collection - Archives West https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv656279?q=Mini
[40] Book of Animals, Mary and Her Little Kid, The Two Cocks & The ... https://catalogs.booksbypress.com/product/book-of-animals-mary-and-her-little-kid-the-two-cocks-the-faithful-dog/
 

History of "Rural Scenes; or, A Peep into the Country" (Cooperstown, H. & E. Phinney, 1829)

Overview

"Rural Scenes; or, A Peep into the Country" is a small children's book first published in the early 19th century. The 1829 edition you referenced was printed and sold in Cooperstown, New York, by the publishing house of H. & E. Phinney, a prominent name in early American printing and publishing.

Authorship and Origins

• The book was originally written by Ann Taylor and Jane Taylor, two English sisters renowned for their contributions to children's literature, including the famous poem "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"123.
• The first edition of "Rural Scenes" appeared in London in 1805, published by Harvey and Darton. It was part of a movement to provide moral and educational reading for children, often in the form of poetry and short prose45.

The American Edition

• The 1829 Cooperstown edition was part of a wave of British children's books reprinted for the American market. H. & E. Phinney, the publisher, was known for producing affordable, accessible books for families and children, including primers, storybooks, and Bibles67.
• The Phinney firm, founded by Elihu Phinney and later run by his sons Henry and Elihu Jr., was a major force in early American publishing. Their print shop in Cooperstown became a hub for distributing books throughout the region and beyond, using both wagons and canal boats to reach rural communities68.

Significance

• The book reflects early 19th-century values, emphasizing rural life, nature, and moral lessons for children. Its content typically includes poems and short stories about country living, animals, and the virtues of simplicity and hard work2.
• The Phinney editions are notable for their role in spreading literacy and educational materials in the young United States, especially in rural areas where books were scarce68.

Collectibility and Rarity

• Early American children's books, especially those printed outside major cities, are now quite rare. The 1829 Cooperstown edition by H. & E. Phinney is a collectible artifact, valued for its historical significance and as an example of early American printing97.

Summary Table

Feature

Details

Title

Rural Scenes; or, A Peep into the Country

Authors

Ann Taylor & Jane Taylor

First Published

1805 (London, Harvey & Darton)

American Edition

1829 (Cooperstown, H. & E. Phinney)

Genre

Children's literature, poetry, moral tales

Publisher's Significance

Major early American publisher, known for Bibles and children's books

Collectibility

Rare and valued among collectors of early American children's books

Further Context

• The Phinney family’s publishing house was instrumental in making books available to a broad American audience, and their editions are often cited in bibliographies of early American children’s literature67.
• The book’s content and style are representative of the period’s didactic approach to children’s reading, blending entertainment with instruction25.

If you have the physical book, it is a tangible piece of early American literary and publishing history.

1. https://jacksonbibliography.library.utoronto.ca/book/details/rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country-for-children/2260
2. https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/person/509.rdf
3. https://www.abebooks.co.uk/first-edition/Rural-scenes-peep-country-children-Taylor/31787403243/bd
4. https://janeaustenslondon.com/2019/03/09/water-water/
5. https://hockliffe.dmu.ac.uk/items/0777.html
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elihu_Phinney
7. https://books.google.com/books/about/Four_Authentic_Reproductions_of_Children.html?id=LNGuzwEACAAJ
8. https://baseballhall.org/media/cooperstown-new-york
9. https://www.bluemountainbooks.com/product/180764/RURAL-SCENES-Or-A-Peep-Into-the-Country-For-Children
10. https://pplx-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/v1751822721/user_uploads/265100/823b546f-dcee-4d25-bd21-e44a81e0f03b/image.jpg
11. https://www.botany.org/psbarchive/issue/1973-v18-no-3.html
12. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18621.html.images
13. https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44497933.pdf
14. https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=phinney+bible
15. https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44604987.pdf
16. https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/9949718203506421
17. https://antiquemapsandglobes.com/Books/Antique/Geography/Rare/$500-to-$1,000?MinimumPrice=500&MaximumPrice=1000
18. https://www.bonhams.com/auction/14500/lot/1022/taylor-jane-and-ann-rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country-for-children/
19. https://www.lexisnexis.com/documents/academic/upa_cis/3453_americanprimers.pdf
20. https://archives.byui.edu/s/public/item/2771
21. https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V46N03_412b.pdf
22. https://moons-rare-books.myshopify.com/products/1828-cooperstown-phinney-holy-bible
23. https://shop.keoghsbooks.com/shop/rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country-for-children-2/
24. https://scripturecentral.org/archive/periodicals/journal-article/joseph-smiths-cooperstown-bible-historical-context-bible-used-joseph-smith-translation
25. https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/title/9565
26. https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofcoop00coop
27. https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/title/9478
28. https://jacksonbibliography.library.utoronto.ca/book/details/rural-scenes-or-a-peep-into-the-country/21556
29. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-rural-studies/publish/guide-for-authors
30. https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/author/gilbert-ann-taylor-jane/
31. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/456249.pdf
32. https://academic.oup.com/jvc/article/27/3/477/6634938
33. http://www.dickens.jp/etexts/dickens/others/American.pdf
34. https://womensprinthistoryproject.com/title/17417
35. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1898147
36. https://www.abebooks.com/Cinderella-Little-Glass-Slipper-Childrens-Books/30619992336/bd
37. https://jacksonbibliography.library.utoronto.ca/author/details/taylor-jane/14014
38. https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/374653600994?itmmeta=01JR695BFG4XRHSTP2BN42TK9B&hash=item573b1844e2%3Ag%3ArccAAOSwRBZimgVf
39. https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv656279?q=Mini
40. https://catalogs.booksbypress.com/product/book-of-animals-mary-and-her-little-kid-the-two-cocks-the-faithful-dog/