The Child, Its Nature and Relations

Item Details

New York, E. Steiger & Co.,, c.1872, Clo5h.

Third edition., Very good.

Twelvemo. 148 pp. Five black and white illustrations.

Red publisher’s cloth with gilt-stamped title and illustration of woman and child. Spine stamped in gilt, slightly faded. Light fraying to cloth at head and foot of spine. Top edge gilt. Floral endpapers. Moderate chipping to front free enpaper. Rear free endpaper loose. Binding slightly loose. Rear hinge cracked but sound. Light, intermittent pencil marking throughout. Very mild toning, foxing. Pen inscription of previous owner reads “Genevieve Steele. Kindergarten College.” A very good copy.

Third edition. The first edition was published in 1872, as was the second. There is only a copyright date in the present edition. Though several copies are held by institutions, all early editions are scarce in commerce.

Bertha Von Marenholtz-Bülow (1810-1893) was a German noblewomen and close disciple of Friedrich Froebel. She established kindergartens throughout Europe, and published numerous pamphlets on education.

The present work—a compendium translated by Matilda H. Kriege (dates unknown), whose daughter studied Froebelian education under Baroness Marenholtz-Bülow—is intended to provide greater theoretical context for an American audience already curious about Froebel’s principles. Having established Kindergartens in New York, Kriege sought to address, in a single text, the many questions put to her concerning “the new education.” Of her decision to translate  the Baroness’s writings, rather than publish Froebel’s or her own, Kriege writes, “Froebel himself was not happy in the expression of his thoughts in writing, and therefore the personal, friendly intercourse which the Baroness had with him, her intuitive understanding of his often hidden meaning, makes her works and teaching of the greatest value.”