1827–1828 Dr Bell’s System & Questions Rev Iremonger Leather Rare Provenance 
 
Book overview
 
Two short education works bound together in one volume, both compiled and arranged by Rev. Frederic Iremonger. They are practical, question and answer format manuals based on Dr Andrew Bell’s monitorial “Dr Bell” system, intended for teachers and for use in National Schools. This copy contains:
 
Dr. Bell’s System Of Instruction, Broken Into Short Questions And Answers, (new edition printed 1827), and
Questions For The Different Elementary Books Used In The National Schools (sixth edition, printed 1828),
 
Both printed for C. & J. Rivington, Booksellers to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, St. Paul’s Church-Yard and Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, London. This single volume contains the complete text of both works plus the publisher’s catalogue leaf.
 
Publication details
 
Author / Compiler: Rev. Frederic Iremonger, A.M., F.L.S.
Publishers: C. & J. Rivington, Booksellers to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London.
Printing: Printed in 1827 and 1828 (as titled), Rivington imprint.
Format: Original publisher’s brown leather over boards, gilt tooling.
Imprint notes: Published for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK).
Size: approx. 17.8 × 11.0 × 1.6 cm.
Weight: approx. 184 g.
Pagination: 44 pages (Dr Bell’s System..), 135 pages (Questions For The Different…), plus 1 publisher’s catalogue leaf at rear. All pages present.
 
Exterior condition (covers and binding)
 
Original brown publisher’s leather over boards, gilt tooling on the spine and the front board with the imprint “SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE” visible on the front.
Binding is intact and the boards remain firm, which is very good for a volume approaching 200 years.
Signs of expected age-related wear: rubbing, surface scuffs, soft bumping at corners, splits and small cracks at the long edges of the spine, a small loss at the top of the spine, and light surface scratches. See photos for detail.
Overall, structurally sound for use and display.
 
Interior condition (text block and pages)
 
Pages generally tanned as expected for 19th century paper, occasional light foxing restricted mostly to endpapers and a few preliminary leaves.
Very occasional tiny holes and one small pinprick on an early leaf, otherwise text complete and legible throughout. A very small hole on page 35/36 and minor edge rips noted. See photos.
A handful of small creases, otherwise the leaves are neat and predominantly uncreased.
Binding secure, pages tight. No missing leaves. All text present for both works and the publisher’s catalogue leaf.
 
Completeness & pagination
 
Dr. Bell’s System Of Instruction: All 44 pages present.
Questions For The Different Elementary Books: All 135 pages present.
Publisher’s catalogue leaf present at rear.
No loose or missing pages noted.
 
Provenance & research note
 
This volume bears the ownership inscription of Clara Froggatt (later Clara Heath) of Newark, Nottinghamshire. This consists of an ink and pencil ownership marks present on the front pastedown and title adjacent pages, reading “Clara Froggatt, 25 Alliance Buildings, Lovers Lane, Newark.” There is also a small ink stamp noted on the pastedown.
Clara was born in the 3rd quarter of 1866 in Newark. At the time of the 1871 Census, aged 4, she lived with her parents William Froggatt (a sailor, originally from Ashbourne, Derbyshire) and Mary Froggatt (from Southwell, Nottinghamshire) at 25 Alliance Buildings, Lovers Lane, Newark –  the very address written inside this book.
By 1881, Clara, then aged 14, was employed as a domestic servant in the household of Wm. Creeke Hall, a chemist of Bridge Street, Newark.
In the 1891 Census, Clara appears under her married name, Clara Heath, living in Barnby in the Willows with her father and her husband, George Heath (an iron foundry labourer from Lincolnshire). They had a young daughter, Mary Emma Heath, born around 1890. Clara and George had married in the first quarter of 1889.
This direct link between the book and a documented 19th-century Nottinghamshire family adds considerable provenance and social history interest, rooting the book in a specific time, place, and life story.
 
Historical context & significance
 
The “Dr Bell” system, also known as the monitorial or Madras system, was one of the most influential nineteenth century methods of elementary education in Britain. It used older children as monitors to instruct younger children, enabling a single teacher to manage very large classes. The system was promoted by Andrew Bell and widely published, taught, and adapted for National Schools.
The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the Rivington booksellers were principal vehicles for spreading schoolbooks to National Schools. Manuals like these are historically important for the history of education and schoolroom practice and are collectible for researchers and educational historians.