em, and so far surpassed the work of any
other American printer of children's books (except possibly those of
Bache in Philadelphia) that his work demands more than a passing
mention.

Beginning, like most printers, with the production of a primer in
seventeen hundred and eighty-four, by seventeen hundred and eighty-six
Thomas was well under way in his work for children. In that year at
least eleven little books bore his imprint and were sent to his Boston
agents to be sold. In the "Worcester Magazine" for June, 1786, Thomas
addressed an "Advertisement to Booksellers," as follows: "A large
assortment of all the various sizes of CHILDREN'S Books, known
by the name of Newbery's Little Books for Children, are now republished
by I. Thomas in Worcester, Massachusetts. They are all done excellently
in his English Method, and it is supposed the paper, printing, cuts, and
binding are in every way equal to those imported from England. As the
Subscriber has been at great expense to carry on this particular branch
of Printing extensively, he hopes to meet with encouragement from the
Booksellers in the United States."

Evidently he did meet with great encouragement from parents as well as
booksellers; and it is suspected that the best printed books bearing
imprints of other booksellers were often printed in Worcester and bound
according to the taste and facilities of the dealer. That this practice
of reprinting the title-page and rebinding was customary, a letter from
Franklin to his nephew in Boston gives indisputable evidence:

Philada. Nov. 26, 1788.

LOVING COUSIN:

I have lately set up one of my grand-children, Benja. F. Bache, as a
Printer here, and he has printed some very pretty little Books for
Children. By the Sloop Friendship, Capt. Stutson, I have sent a Box
address'd to you, containing 150 of each volume, in Sheets, which I
request you would, according to your wonted Goodness, put in a way
of being dispos'd of for the Benefit of my dear Sister. They are
sold here, bound in marbled Paper at 1 S. a Volume; but I should
suppose it best, if it may be done, to sell the whole to some
Stationer, at once, unbound as they are; in which case I imagine
that half a Dollar a Quire may be thought a reasonable Price,
allowing usual Credit if necessary.

My Love to your Family, & believe me ever,

Your affectionate Uncle
B. FRANKLIN.