"Contenances de la Table," Probably the Earliest Surviving Printed Book Specifically Intended to be Read by Children

A pamphlet surviving in only one copy preserved at The Morgan Library & Museum, entitled Contenances de la table, is probably the earliest printed book specifically written to be read by children, apart from elementary Latin grammars. It was probably printed in Lyons the "Printer of Champion des Dames (Jean Du Pré (printer of Lyons)?).

There were several later printings of this courtesy book written in quatrains, each of which begins with the word enfant. All the editions are undated and most are unique copies. In 2006 Ben Kinmont of Sebastopol, California and Bernard Quaritch Ltd  of London published an English translation and facsimile of the 1503 edition in a limited edition of 100 copies. The translation was by Timothy J. Tomasik.