[ Summerly / An Alphabet of Quadrupeds ]
The dedication to this book identifies the author only as "F. S." This would be "Felix Summerly," which was the pseudonym used by Sir Henry Cole (1808 - 1882), an English inventor, industrial designer, author, and civil servant. He edited a number of works for children in his "Home Treasury" series, of which this book is a part, but may well be best remembered today as the man who started the tradition of sending Christmas cards, and who commissioned the creation of the first commercial Christmas card. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Victoria and Albert Museum, among many other accomplishments. Seriously, this guy was something else; check out his Wiki entry.
Interestingly, the dedication, to Summerly's three daughters, is concerned only with how this volume will increase their appreciation of art, rather than biology. A few of the illustrations are by noted artists such as Rembrandt and "Albert Durer" (whose correct first name is Albrecht).
This book was first published in 1844 (London: Joseph Cundall), then republished in 1849 (London: Henry George Bohn). A slightly different version — it has some different entries but includes verbatim passages from this book — was published in 1852 in the United States (Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo).
The entry on dogs mentions Newfoundlands specifically, noting two of their most notable characteristics: their size and their ability to perform water rescue.
DOGS are most faithful, attached creatures. They are of all sizes, from the large Newfoundland-dog, as big nearly as a donkey, down to the little Lap-dog, scarcely bigger than a kitten. . . . The Newfoundland-dog will rush into the water to save any one from drowning. There are many stories about dogs which will please you very much to read.
Not that this volume provides any of those stories about dogs. Like all the entries, the one for dogs is only one paragraph in length.
While this book is illustrated by various artists, the image for dogs does not include a Newfoundland, even though it is one of only three specific breeds mentioned in this entry.