Ten Boys Who Lived on the Road from Long Ago to Now by Jane Andrews (1900 Hardcover w/o DJ)




In "Ten Boys," the history of the world is summarized in the stories of Kabla the Aryan boy, Darius the Persian boy, Cleon the Greek boy, Horatius the Roman boy, Wulf the Saxon boy, Gilbert the Knight's page, Roger the English boy, Fuller the Puritan boy, Dawson the Yankee boy, and Frank Wilson the modern boy of 1885.


A story that shows that the boys of long ago are not to be looked upon as strangers, but were just as much boys as we find today. xviii + 243 + 6pp of ads.


Jane Andrews (1833 – 1887) was an American author and educator.


She attended the State Normal School in West Newton, Massachusetts, and graduated as valedictorian in 1853. She lived in the same boardinghouse as Elizabeth Peabody and through her met Peabody's brother-in-law, the educator Horace Mann. Mann encouraged Andrews to enroll at his new school, Antioch College in Ohio, and she became the first student to register there. Her stay at Antioch was brief because in the middle of her first year at the school, a neurological disorder described as a "spinal affliction" forced her to return to Newburyport, where she remained as an invalid for six years.


In 1860, she was able to open a small primary school in her home. Influenced by Mann's theories, her teaching was advanced for its day, with its emphasis on student experimentation and observation, involvement in the learning process, and societal responsibility. After 25 years, her health forced her to close the school in 1885.


Out of her lessons grew a series of popular children's books. Her first book was Seven Little Sisters Who Live on the Round Ball That Floats in the Air (1861), a collection of stories about seven young girls who live in different, unusual places. The book was immensely popular; it sold nearly half a million copies over the next century and was translated into Chinese, German, and Japanese. It was followed by a similar book about boys in different historical time periods, Ten Boys Who Lived on the Road From Long Ago to Now (1886). Andrews' works continued to be used in elementary schools a half-century after her death.


Charles George Copeland (1858–1945) was an American book illustrator active from about 1887 until about 1940. He was a member of the Boston Watercolor Society, and the Boston Art Club. His illustrations were used in a variety of books.


This is an original book over 120 years old, not a reproduced facsimile.


Hardcover has red cloth boards with brown lettering on front and spine. This copy has considerable wear having lost about a half inch from both ends of spine, has stains from a paint can on rear cover, edges of cover worn through to cardboard and has loss of rear end-paper. This means both gutters are torn, but cloth attaching text to boards is intact. No loss of numbered pages found, text appears complete. pages have been handled and some paragraphs are starred. Legibility not affected by marks. Prior owner's name on front and back end-pages.



Copyright 1885. 1900 on title page implies that was the year this copy printed. No ISBN nor LCCN. MSR = $0.50, from ads in back of book.



Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:


Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new” or even “new.”  Booksellers needed some word to describe this...


Like New – A new book, no marks no damage (except maybe remainder marks or shelf-wear) except not obtained directly from the publisher or in packaging from the publisher.


Very Good – How you or I might take care of a book, closer to “as new” than standard. Might show ownership.


Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” This is the most likely condition for books of this age & title, shows the book has been read or previously owned.


Acceptable – How a child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or a book that has been damaged.)


Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have

missing pages (you should ask).


Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.


1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector

might desire this copy.


Thanks for looking!