Grandmamma Easy's merry multiplication

Counting books, like grammar books, are not easy to illustrate. Illustrations showing two apples or four balls progressing to 10 are simple enough to compose and there have been many books published over the centuries along this basic line. However, when mathematical function becomes the subject the problem is not so easy. Despite this attempts were made: Marmaduke Multiply's merry method of making minor mathematicians was published in 1817 and was one of the first successful attempts to answer the need.

While the rhymes are not especially easy on the tongue, the illustrations may have assisted the learning process as the young scholar counted the 14 birds to reinforce the 'Twice 7 are fourteen'.

Grandmamma Easy and her partner Grandpapa Easy were the pseudonymous authors of a number of books published by Dean & Son in the latter half of the 19th century. They were available reasonably cheaply and were aimed at middle class families keen to further their children's learning. Mathematics, alphabets and grammar, and historical buildings are some of the topics covered by them.

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