John Marshall (publisher)
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- For other people named John Marshall, see John Marshall (disambiguation)John Marshall (disambiguation)John Marshall was Chief Justice of the United States.John Marshall may also refer to:Athletes and coaches:*John Marshall , swimmer from Australia...
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John Marshall (1756–1824) was a London publisher who specialized in children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
, chapbook
Chapbook
A chapbook is a pocket-sized booklet. The term chap-book was formalized by bibliophiles of the 19th century, as a variety of ephemera , popular or folk literature. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales,...
s, educational games and teaching schemes. He described himself as 'The Children's Printer' and referred to children as his 'young friends' He was the preeminent children's book publisher in England from about 1780 until 1800. After 1795 he became the publisher of Hannah More
Hannah More
Hannah More was an English religious writer, and philanthropist. She can be said to have made three reputations in the course of her long life: as a poet and playwright in the circle of Johnson, Reynolds and Garrick, as a writer on moral and religious subjects, and as a practical...
's Cheap Repository Tracts
Cheap Repository Tracts
The Cheap Repository Tracts was a series of around 120 political and religious tracts published between March 1795 and December 1797, for sale or distribution to literate poor people, as an alternative to the ‘corrupt and vicious little books and ballads which have been hung out of windows in the...
, and following a dispute with More he published his own similar series. About 1800 Marshall began to publish a series of miniature libraries, games and picture books for children. He died in July 1824 and his business was continued either by his widow or his unmarried daughter, both of whom were named Eleanor.
Life
John Marshall was baptized 28 November 1756 in the parish church of St Mary Aldermary, London, the son of Richard Marshall (fl 1752–1779) and his wife Ellenor. His father was a junior partner, then full partner, and subsequently owner of the successful chapbook and popular print business at No. 4 Aldermary Churchyard, (off Watling Street), that had been established in 1755 by William and Cluer Dicey. He was bound apprentice to the printer Edward Gilberd of Watling Street 3 September 1771, but transferred to his father's business a year later, and became a freeman of the Stationers’ CompanyWorshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Stationers' Company was founded in 1403; it received a Royal Charter in 1557...
6 October 1778. He inherited his father's business the following year.
John married Eleanor Blashfield 4 December 1788; they had two children, Eleanor Elizabeth born 8 March 1790 and John born 28 May 1792. He died during the summer of 1824.
History of the business
Richard Marshall left 50% of his business to his son John, and 25% each to his nephew James and his widow. It continued to operate as John Marshall and Co. until November 1789 when the partnership was voluntarily wound up and John continued in business on his own. In October 1806 Marshall moved his business to 140 Fleet StreetFleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, where it remained until his death in 1824. According to his will (made in 1813) his business was to be left to his widow Eleanor Marshall, but probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
was granted on 14 July 1824 to his unmarried daughter Eleanor Elizabeth Marshall. One of these ladies was the 'E. Marshall' who continued to operate the business until c.1829.
Street literature
Richard's business was based on the sale of popular printsPrintmaking
Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
, maps
MAPS
Maps is the plural of map, a visual representation of an area.As an acronym, MAPS may refer to:* Mail Abuse Prevention System, an organisation that provides anti-spam support...
, chapbook
Chapbook
A chapbook is a pocket-sized booklet. The term chap-book was formalized by bibliophiles of the 19th century, as a variety of ephemera , popular or folk literature. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales,...
s, broadside ballads and other forms of street literature
Street literature
Street literature or broadsides began in the 16th century and continued until the mid-19th century as a type of printing of large printed sheets of paper, designed to be plastered onto walls...
. These publications continued to represent an important part of the output of the press until the mid 1790s. There are examples of all of these categories of literature which contain John Marshall's imprint, but the extent of his involvement is difficult to ascertain as many of these works were undated and carried the imprint 'Printed and sold in Aldermary Churchyard'.
Children's literature
During the 1770s Richard had begun to publish children's books as a sideline, and this aspect of the work was greatly expanded by John and his partners after 1780. Marshall recruited a number of new female authors and published some of the most important children's literature of the time, notably:- Mary Ann KilnerMary Ann KilnerMary Ann Kilner was a prolific writer of children's books during the late eighteenth century. Her most famous book was The Adventures of a Pincushion c.. Together, she and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Kilner, published over thirty books...
– The adventures of a pincushion, The adventures of a whipping-top, Jemima Placid, Memoirs of a peg-top, or William Sedley; - Dorothy KilnerDorothy KilnerDorothy Kilner was a prolific English writer of children's books during the late 18th century.-Life:...
– Anecdotes of a boarding-school, The histories of more children than one, The life and perambulation of a mouse, The Rotchfords; - Ellenor FennEllenor FennEllenor Fenn was a prolific 18th-century writer of children's books.-Early life:Fenn was born on 12 March 1743/44 in Westhorpe, Suffolk to Sheppard and Susanna Frere. John Frere was her elder brother and John Hookham Frere her nephew. In 1766 she married the antiquarian John Fenn and moved with...
(Mrs Teachwell) – Cobwebs to catch fliesCobwebs to Catch FliesCobwebs to Catch Flies is a children's book by Ellenor Fenn, originally anonymous, but later editions were advertised as being by Mrs Teachwell or "Mrs Lovechild"...
, Fables in monosyllables, The mother's grammar, The rational dame, Rational sports, School occurrences; - Sarah TrimmerSarah TrimmerSarah Trimmer was a noted writer and critic of British children's literature in the eighteenth century...
– Scripture lessons, various series of prints depicting biblical and historical scenes, with accompanying descriptions, for use in Sunday and other schools. - Lucy PeacockLucy PeacockPeacock, Lucy , was an author, editor, translator, bookseller and publisher of children's books during the late eighteenth century. Possibly she was married or perhaps in partnership with a member of her family, since 'R. and L. Peacock', published a number of items at the Juvenile Library, No...
– The life of a bee, Emily; or, The test of sincerity
All of these works all went through several editions; some went through innumerable editions, and remained in print well into the 19th century – such as Cobwebs to catch flies or The life and perambulation of a mouse, which was praised by Sarah Trimmer
Sarah Trimmer
Sarah Trimmer was a noted writer and critic of British children's literature in the eighteenth century...
and Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. During her brief career, she wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book...
alike.
Marshall's catalogue for May 1793 listed 113 children's book titles, two children's magazines, as well as various teaching aids.
Teaching aids
Marshall ventured into the publication of teaching aids c.1785 with Mrs Teachwell'sEllenor Fenn
Ellenor Fenn was a prolific 18th-century writer of children's books.-Early life:Fenn was born on 12 March 1743/44 in Westhorpe, Suffolk to Sheppard and Susanna Frere. John Frere was her elder brother and John Hookham Frere her nephew. In 1766 she married the antiquarian John Fenn and moved with...
Set of Toys, for enabling Ladies to instill the Rudiments of Spelling, Reading, Grammar, and Arithmetic, under the Idea of Amusement, which was accompanied by an instruction manual 'The Art of teaching in sport. Other teaching aids listed in the 1793 catalogue were Miss Cowley's Pocket Sphere (for teaching geography), and Alphabetical Cards for enticing Children to acquire an early Knowledge of their Letters. A dissected map of England, (a forerunner of modern Jigsaw puzzle
Jigsaw puzzle
A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces.Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture...
s) was also advertised by him between 1795 and 1801.
Retail bookselling
In 1787 the business opened a retail bookshop at 17 Queen Street, CheapsideCheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
, (hitherto the Aldermary Churchyard premises had principally served as a wholesale supplier and printing office). The shop seems to have closed about 1799 when the business appears to have suffered a financial setback following his break with Hannah More.
Children's periodicals
On four occasions during his career Marshall attempted to start periodicals for children. These were:- The Juvenile magazine; or, An instructive and entertaining miscellany for youth of both sexes edited by Lucy PeacockLucy PeacockPeacock, Lucy , was an author, editor, translator, bookseller and publisher of children's books during the late eighteenth century. Possibly she was married or perhaps in partnership with a member of her family, since 'R. and L. Peacock', published a number of items at the Juvenile Library, No...
, 1788. - The Family magazine; or, a Repository of religious instruction, and rational amusement edited by Sarah TrimmerSarah TrimmerSarah Trimmer was a noted writer and critic of British children's literature in the eighteenth century...
, 1788-9. - The Children's magazine; or, Monthly repository of instruction and delight, 1799
- The Picture magazine, or, monthly exhition for young people, 1800–1801.
Cheap Repository Tracts
Marshall was the London printer and publisher of Hannah MoreHannah More
Hannah More was an English religious writer, and philanthropist. She can be said to have made three reputations in the course of her long life: as a poet and playwright in the circle of Johnson, Reynolds and Garrick, as a writer on moral and religious subjects, and as a practical...
's Cheap Repository Tracts
Cheap Repository Tracts
The Cheap Repository Tracts was a series of around 120 political and religious tracts published between March 1795 and December 1797, for sale or distribution to literate poor people, as an alternative to the ‘corrupt and vicious little books and ballads which have been hung out of windows in the...
between 1795 and December 1797. Following a dispute with More in 1797 Marshall published his own series of Cheap Repository Tracts until 1799. Following the formation of the Religious Tract Society
Religious Tract Society
The Religious Tract Society, founded 1799, 56 Paternoster Row and 65 St. Paul's Chuchyard, was the original name of a major British publisher of Christian literature intended initially for evangelism, and including literature aimed at children, women, and the poor.The RTS is also notable for being...
in 1799 Marshall abandoned tract publishing and concentrated on new forms of publication for children.
Miniature libraries and Cabinets
Marshall published a range of attractive miniature libraries in wooden cases, after 1799, including 'The Child's Latin Library', 'The Doll's library', 'The Infant's Library', or 'The Juvenile; or child's library'. Similarly, he published a range of 'Cabinets' (wooden boxes containing sets of picture cards and miniature books) such as 'The Cabinet of beasts', 'The Cabinet of birds', 'The Cabinet of fishes', 'The Infant's Alphabetical Cabinet', 'The Infant's cabinet of the cries of London' or 'The Doll's casket'.Picture Books
Marshall was an early innovator in the publication of coloured picture books for children, illustrated with hand-coloured etchingEtching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
s. During the early 19th century he published editions of many traditional fairy tales such as Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
, Puss in Boots
Puss in Boots
'Puss' is a character in the fairy tale "The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots" by Charles Perrault. The tale was published in 1697 in his Histoires ou Contes du temps passé...
or Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
, and accumulative rhymes
Cumulative tale
In a cumulative tale, sometimes also called a chain tale, action or dialogue repeats and builds up in some way as the tale progresses. With only the sparest of plots, these tales often depend upon repetition and rhythm for their effect, and can require a skilled storyteller to negotiate their...
and games such as 'The House that Jack built'
This Is the House That Jack Built
"This Is the House That Jack Built" is a popular British nursery rhyme and cumulative tale. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 20584. It is Aarne-Thompson type 2035.-Lyrics:This is perhaps the most common set of modern lyrics:...
, 'The Barn that Tom built', or 'The Gaping Wide-mouth'd Waddling Frog', with hand coloured illustrations. He was also noteworthy for publishing a range of books of humorous verses illustrated by the caricaturist Isaac Robert Cruikshank
Isaac Robert Cruikshank
Isaac Robert Cruikshank, sometimes known as Robert Cruikshank was a caricaturist, illustrator, and portrait miniaturist, the less well-known brother of George Cruikshank, both sons of Isaac Cruikshank. Born in Middlesex, where he and his brother George attended school in Edgware...
.
Other activities
In common with other contemporary printers and publishers, John Marshall was involved in the sale of patent medicinePatent medicine
Patent medicine refers to medical compounds of questionable effectiveness sold under a variety of names and labels. The term "patent medicine" is somewhat of a misnomer because, in most cases, although many of the products were trademarked, they were never patented...
s, although in his case these were aimed specifically at children. He advertised 'an improved preparation of Dr. Waite’s Worm Medicine ... impossible to distinguish it from the most agreeable Gingerbread Nut', from premises at 44, Long-lane, West Smithfield, in 1793.
He also appears to have been a supporter of the movement to abolish the slave trade in Britain. He printed a number of anti-slavery tracts as well as a print depicting 'The cruel treatment of slaves in the West Indies', 1793.
Children's literature
After the death of John NewberyJohn Newbery
John Newbery was an English publisher of books who first made children's literature a sustainable and profitable part of the literary market. He also supported and published the works of Christopher Smart, Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Johnson...
, the first publisher to make a profit publishing children’s literature, many firms began to enter the business, but none ever had the monopoly Newbery did. Marshall was one of the most successful and he published "the most original books", popularizing fictional biography for juvenile readers. In general, Marshall published books that were more serious than Newbery’s, emphasizing the "instruction" part of "to instruct and delight", the imperative of 18th-century children’s literature. His catalogue included this announcement:
However, although Marshall advocated more disciplined stories, he also published Newbery-inspired stories that “stressed amusement” and would sell well, including fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
s. By the mid-1780s, he was focusing almost exclusively on moral works that had a strong Christian element. As Samuel Pickering, Jr., a scholar of 18th-century children’s literature, explains, “he was a shrewd publisher and, reading the market well, he saw that instruction would sell. While keeping a selection of old-fashioned, amusing books in print….he established a reputation as a printer of moral works.” Mary Jackson describes his strategy in sharper terms, saying he engaged in "apparent duplicity and sharp tricks", claiming that he was a reforming publisher but issuing tales that had little moral redemption in the eyes of Trimmer, Fenn, Kilner, and others. In 1795, he became a printer for Hannah More
Hannah More
Hannah More was an English religious writer, and philanthropist. She can be said to have made three reputations in the course of her long life: as a poet and playwright in the circle of Johnson, Reynolds and Garrick, as a writer on moral and religious subjects, and as a practical...
’s Cheap Repository Tracts
Cheap Repository Tracts
The Cheap Repository Tracts was a series of around 120 political and religious tracts published between March 1795 and December 1797, for sale or distribution to literate poor people, as an alternative to the ‘corrupt and vicious little books and ballads which have been hung out of windows in the...
.
Marshall learned from Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Anna Laetitia Barbauld was a prominent English poet, essayist, literary critic, editor, and children's author.A "woman of letters" who published in multiple genres, Barbauld had a successful writing career at a time when female professional writers were rare...
’s innovative children’s literature and began to use large fonts and margins; he also began to publish graduated readers like her Lessons for Children
Lessons for Children
Lessons for Children is a series of four age-adapted reading primers written by the prominent 18th-century British poet and essayist Anna Laetitia Barbauld. Published in 1778 and 1779, the books initiated a revolution in children's literature in the Anglo-American world...
. Ellenor Fenn wrote a series for him which began with Cobwebs to Catch Flies
Cobwebs to Catch Flies
Cobwebs to Catch Flies is a children's book by Ellenor Fenn, originally anonymous, but later editions were advertised as being by Mrs Teachwell or "Mrs Lovechild"...
. He also recognized the value of illustrations in children’s books. Beginning in the mid-1780s, he and Sarah Trimmer
Sarah Trimmer
Sarah Trimmer was a noted writer and critic of British children's literature in the eighteenth century...
published several sets of illustrated stories about the Bible and ancient history.
In common with most contemporary commercial publishers Marshall was driven by profit and he paid his writers poorly. Mrs Fenn received no monetary payment for her works, merely printed copies of Marshall's works to give away as gifts to her friends and neighbours. Mrs Trimmer's Description of a Set of Prints of Scripture History and Description of a Set of Prints of Ancient History, among others, went through many editions and no doubt made money for Marshall, but she did not see much of the profits. She complained that he treated her like "a mere bookseller's fag". More described him as "selfish, tricking and disobliging from first to last" and resented his desire to make as much money as possible from the Cheap Repository Tracts
Cheap Repository Tracts
The Cheap Repository Tracts was a series of around 120 political and religious tracts published between March 1795 and December 1797, for sale or distribution to literate poor people, as an alternative to the ‘corrupt and vicious little books and ballads which have been hung out of windows in the...
. However, she saw their publication as a moral crusade, whereas he had grown up publishing such works as a business. When More took her publishing elsewhere, thereby seriously undermining Marshall's business, he responded by issuing his own series of tracts in competition.
Like Newbery, Marshall’s authors advertised his books within their texts. For example, in Anecdotes of a Boarding School, a mother gives her daughter Marshall’s Dialogues and Letters and Adventures of a Pincushion as she is going off to school. In Jemima Placid, the heroine reads books that could "be bought at Mr. Marshall’s" and her father determines to buy many for his friends.