David Blamires Alphabet Book Collection
Date range: 1807-2021
Medium: Printed
Number of items: Over 1,000 items.
Books from the library of David Blamires (1936-2022), formerly Professor of German at The University of Manchester. The core of the collection was donated in June 2015, with some later additions in subsequent years. Most of the titles are in English, but other languages represented include Dutch, Esperanto, Finnish, French, German, Italian and Latin.
The collection contains a wide variety of alphabet books, ranging from simple primers intended to help children to learn their letters, to beautifully illustrated volumes aimed at both juvenile and adult audiences. Alphabet books are often based on a particular theme, with popular subjects including animals, food, occupations, and modes of transport. Many examples from the 20th century are based on well-known characters from children’s literature and television, from Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh and Noddy, to Paddington, Postman Pat and Maisy. The choice of subjects for inclusion in alphabet books, across the decades, can inform social, cultural and educational history.
This highly-visual collection contains a variety of print formats: pop-up, moveable, shape, board, rag and colouring books, plus a range of complementary merchandise: alphabet-themed wood blocks, friezes, flashcards, postcards, wrapping paper, posters, prints and a jigsaw. The adult alphabets feature a high number of private press and artists’ books. The collection also includes several alphabet rhymes written by, or for, David Blamires.
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