The first American book to depict baseball was a Little Pretty Pocket Book. The American edition first appeared in 1787, but since it was originally published in England in 1744, it doesn't qualify as an American book.
The first totally American book to include some rudimentary rules of baseball, as well as a woodcut of children playing, is Robin Carver's The Book of Sports. It was published in 1834.
Please note that Hunt's book does not mention baseball. There were dozens of bat and ball games played by children.
Last edited by barrysloate; 02-18-2010 at 02:21 PM.
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