|
The Chapmen!
Chapbooks were
sold by 'Chapmen' or
peddlers who sold,
amongst other wares,
the popular penny
Chapbooks at local
fairs! The Chapmen
sold various wares
that were easy to
transport from one
village or fair to
the next. They
attracted attention
by dancing and
singing the old
familiar Rhymes! The
word 'Chap'
originates in Middle
English, from the
Old English 'capman'
meaning 'trade' add
this to the word
'cheap' to provide a
full definition of a
Chapman. (You now
know the origin and
meaning of the name
Chapman!) These old
Chap books, sold by
the Chapmen, have
given us most of our
old Nursery Rhymes!
English Ballads,
Folklore and old
legends were also
documented in
Chapbooks and sung
by wandering
minstrels which
helped to continue
the spread of the
old Nursery Rhymes
and Legends.
The Chapbooks
The Chapbook was
a cheap, small book,
containing 24 pages
or less without a
hard cover.
Chapbooks were
usually anonymous
and undated. The
popularity of
Chapbooks increased
during the 1600's,
1700's and 1800's
but only a few of
the early copies
have survived. The
contents were
committed from
memory which
accounts for some
variations in the
lyrics and words of
some Nursery Rhymes.
The Chapbook
Printers and
Publishers
The leading
chapbook printers
including John
Marshall, published, printed and sold
in Aldermary
Churchyard, next to
the Church of St
Mary Aldermary, Bow
Lane in 1780.
Aldermary Churchyard
was situated East
and south of St.
Mary Aldermary
Church, from Budge
Row to Bow Lane. It
is also of interest
to note that Newbery
Publishing House,
who published
"Mother Goose's
Melody - or Sonnets
for the Cradle", was
originally set up in
St. Paul’s
churchyard.
Nursery Rhymes,
Fairy Tales &
Children's stories
in Chapbooks
The content and
material of the
Chapbooks expanded
in the 1700's to
include children's
stories like
Robinson Crusoe and
various versions of
Perrault’s Fairy
Tales.
The Chapbooks and
History
The Chapbooks
provide some
excellent
information and
material for those
interested in
tracing the origins
of the Nursery Rhyme
- all of which help
us to maintain our
history and heritage
through the words
and lyrics of the
humble Nursery
Rhyme. For more
information
regarding the
history and origins
of the Nursery Rhyme
please click the
following links:
The Identity of
Mother Goose & her
Nursery Rhymes!
Secret History of
the Nursery Rhyme
Mother Goose Origins |
