The "Enduring Interest" of Coloring Books

When was the first coloring book?

The Little Folks’ Painting Book is considered to be the first coloring book. It was published around 1880, and contained in its preface this description, “ THE " LITTLE FOLKS" PAINTING BOOK is essentially what its title implies a book of pictures, to be coloured by young people. The majority of the sketches, which exceed a hundred in number, are in outline, and all are especially adapted for painting in water- colours. The Frontispiece has been coloured by hand, to show in some measure how the rest of- the book may be painted. It is, of course, apparent that, in a book of this description, the talents of young artists must be chiefly directed to the fitting choice of colours, and their harmonious arrangement.”

Here is an image from that book, provided from the Internet Archive.

The "Little Folks" Painting Book

Later in the preface there is a description of the “why” of the book:

"But it was felt that such a Painting Book might well be more than a mere book of pictures : that the illustrations might with advantage be accompanied by stories and verses, which should serve a double purpose, being both explanatory of the characters and incidents, and therefore useful to the young artist, and at the same time interesting to readers, who might not themselves be engaged in colouring the pictures.

The book, therefore, assumed its present form, and it is hoped that the stories and verses herein contained may have some enduring interest of their own, apart altogether from the original purpose of the book."

“The enduring interest” draws adult coloring book enthusiasts into such topics as fibonacci spirals, mandalas, bird, flower, and dog books, and inspirational and meditative approaches. (Incidentally, all those topics are covered by Rocky Butte Publishing coloring books.)

With the advent of new tools available to coloring book creators, it is easy to be optimistic that “the enduring interest” will help create new topics and approaches to coloring books that will continue the educational, spiritual, and healing aspects of coloring.