The history of Tom Hickathrift the conqueror.

Title from advertisement
The excellent history of Tom Hickathrift.

London : Joseph Cundall, [1844].

London : Charles Whittingham at the Chiswick Press.

Gammer Gurton's story books : 10

6d. : plain
9d. : coloured

Cundall, Joseph (publisher)
Merton, Ambrose (William John Thoms) (editor)
Whittingham, Charles (printer)

Source for date
Bibliography and stylistic analysis

Publishers' Circular (November 2, 1846), 321: "Illustrated books for children, published by Joseph Cundall, 12, Old Bond Street. [...] The old story-books of England. Newly collected and re-edited by Ambrose Merton, Gent. F.S.A. With illuminated flower borders to every page, and illustrated with twelve pictures by eminent artists. In one volume, handsomely bound, 7s. 6d.; with coloured plates, 10s. 6d. Or in 13 separate books, 6d. each, plain; 9d. coloured. 1. The famous history of Sir Guy of Warwick. 2. A true tale of Robin Hood. 3. Gammer Gurton's garland. 4. The renowned history of Sir Bevis of Hampton. 5. The doleful story of the babes in the wood. 6. A merry tale of the king and the cobbler. 7. The famous history of Friar Bacon. 8. The romantic story of the Princess Rosetta. 9. A rare ballad of the beggar's daughter. 10. The excellent history of Tom Hickathrift. 11. The mad pranks of Robin Goodfellow. 12. A famous ballad of Fair Rosamund. 13. The pleasant story of patient Grissell."

Variant A
[1844]: plain
Variant B
[1844]: coloured

BL: 12835.b.9. (same description for the whole series; not analysed)
CUL-WaC: Waddleton.d.9.2390 (not analysed)
UTMC-McL: McLean D 1112 (described as: "At head of caption title: "Gammer Gurton's Story Books.". Part of the "Sixpenny Series" series of "Gammer Gurton's Story Books", which was a part of "The Home Treasury" series of children's books produced by Henry Cole [pseud. "Felix Summerly"] and Joseph Cundall from 1843 to 1846. Cf. McLean, Ruari. Joseph Cundall, 1976 and McLean, Ruari. Victorian book design and colour printing, 1972. Preliminary wood-engraved plate with signatures: "F Taylor" [i.e. Frederick Tayler?] and "Measom.Sc". Printed by Charles Whittingham at the Chiswick Press. Cf. McLean, Ruari. Victorian book design and colour printing,1972. Sheets are the same and illustration is the same as that colour printed for the same story in "The old story books of England", published by Joseph Cundall in [1845]. See McLean D 0814. Text printed within thin black rule border with a thick wood-engraved floriated and illustrative outer edge. Includes wood-engraved decorative initial and tail-piece. Wood-engraved plate is the same as that used for the same story in "Gammer Gurton's famous histories" published in [1846?] by Chapman and Hall. See McLean D 0425. MASS copy: In original orange paper wrappers printed in gold with the title and surrounding wood-engraved geometric decorative pattern; a.e. stained red. Inside of upper wrapper printed with publisher's advertisements listing the "Shilling Series" and "Bound Series" in "Felix Summerly's Home Treasury of Books and Pictures, purposed to cultivate the Affections, Fancy, Imagination, and Taste of Children.", including the monogram "FS" [i.e. Felix Summerly]. Lower wrapper printed with publisher's advertisements listing the "Sixpenny Series." and those that "will shortly be published" in "Gammer Gurton's Story-Books. Newly revised and amended, for the amusement and delight of all good little Masters and Misses, by Ambrose Merton, Gent. F. S. A." [pseudonym of William John Thoms], the list including "10. The Excellent History of Tom Hickathrift."."; not analysed)

https://www.picoboo.eu/catalogue/pcb3923

Francesca Tancini, "The history of Tom Hickathrift the conqueror". In PiCoBoo, accessed April 21, 2026, https://www.picoboo.eu/catalogue/pcb3923