1882 Rare Victorian Book - Carry’s Rose or, The Magic of Kindness by Mrs Cupples

Author: Mrs. George Cupples.
Title: Carry’s Rose; or, The Magic of Kindness. A Tale for the Young.
Publisher: London, T. Nelson and Sons, Paternoster Row; Edinburgh; and New York, 1882.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 6.5 x 4.5 inches.
Pages: 72 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original publisher’s full green cloth binding, decoratively stamped in black on both boards and spine, with an attractive oval inset chromolithographic floral vignette of a pink rose mounted on the upper cover and a gilt title label beneath (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. 
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing and toning - as shown). A neat pictorial Ex Libris on the front pastedown - as shown.
Illustrations: Contains a coloured frontispiece (“The Birthday Picnic”) and several in-text wood-engraved illustrations (e.g., Carry and the Starling, The Journey), enhancing the gentle moral narrative. Complete.

The book: Carry’s Rose; or, The Magic of Kindness is a charming Victorian moral tale for children, centered on young Caroline (“Carry”) Ashcroft and her experiences with friendship, empathy, and generosity. Through simple but affecting episodes—helping animals, keeping promises, and thinking of others before herself—the story gently teaches that “the truest pleasure consists, not in gratifying one’s own wishes, but in trying to make others happy.” This small-format Nelson edition is especially attractive for its decorative cloth and mounted floral vignette, making it a lovely example of late nineteenth-century gift-book design for young readers.

The author: Mrs. George Cupples (Susan Ferrier Cupples, 1831–1891) was a Scottish author of popular didactic children’s stories, including The Story of Our Doll and The Little Captain. Her works reflect the Victorian ideals of domestic virtue, compassion, and moral instruction, written in an accessible, affectionate style that appealed to middle-class families.