| Summary: | Relief prints--wood engravings; Illustrated with uncolored wood engravings. The first half of the book is a history of the United States in particular and North America in general. The second half of the book is a history of South America. Written in preface: "Among the multitude of books for juvenile instruction, there are not a few of an historical nature; but it is remarkable that History is not an universal, nor even a general study in our common schools. This cannot arise from any want of adaptation in the subject itself, to the purposes of instruction; on the contrary, it is manifest that it is peculiarly adapted to these purposes. We do not mean to say this of history as it has been generally treated; for most school books of this kind are but little more than extended chronological tables, and offer nothing to the reader but a tedious mass of dates, and general observations. Such works may be useful to people of mature age, but they neither amuse, nor instruct the class of readers, for whom they are designed. But of all reading, there is none that so readily attracts the attention, and lays hold of the sympathy of children and youth, as lively narratives of the enterprises, adventures, dangers, trials, successes and failures of mankind, and these it is the business of History to display. Books which treat of the works of nature and art, which exhibit geographical details, observations upon natural history, and natural philosophy--any, or all of these will be immediately thrown aside by a child left to his choice, for a book of stories, delineating events, in connexion with the developement of human passions." This page discusses the Esquimaux, a people who "are very filthy in their habits, and seem to relish their food best when it is nearly putrid." The illustration depicts a winter village of the Esquimaux. The scene includes figures dressed in furs and holding spears, igloos, and sleds and a sled dog. Samuel Goodrich was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, the 6th of ten children and the son of a minister, in 1793. His career as a book publisher began in 1816. In the early 1820s Goodrich came to the conclusion that children as well as adults preferred to read truth rather than fancy and that it would be possible to present history, geography, science, etc. ( truth) in such a way that it would be more interesting to children than fairies, giants and monsters. Based on this conclusion Goodrich moved his business to Boston and Peter Parley was born in 1827 with PETER PARLEY'S TALES ABOUT AMERICA. Goodrich expanded his publishing efforts to textbooks and magazines. His publications were so popular that he attracted imposters, particularly in England. Spurious Peter Parleys appeared everywhere, infuriating Goodrich, but he did not succeed in putting an end to them. The date listed on the title page is 1833 and the date listed on the cover is 1834. Peter Parley; History;
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