The Accomplish'd Housewife; or, the Gentlewoman's Companion
London: J. Newbery, 1745.
First Edition. Hardcover (Full Leather). Good Condition. Item #CAT000973
Full contemporary leather, neatly rebacked with a new lettering piece. Wear at edges, internally shows evidence of extensive use, notes to rear of title showing thorugh, wear to page edges, wear to foredges of pages, hole to page 3/4 touching a few letters, tear to51/52 but without loss, repaired tear to 251/52 through a woodcut but without real loss, ink drops and stains scattered throughout. marginal tears. Lacking the two plates of writing examples but with penmanship scribbles in the writing section. Contemporary inscription to Mrs. Wadsworth "at lying in hospitall in Gadman (?) st. St. James London". The first lying in hospitals srpung up just a few years after the publication of this book - (the first in 1747 then a number how the next 20 years) . (16), 431, (13)pp. Six woodcuts of table settings in the text. Cagle 530 (1748 2nd edition), Bitting 513, Pennell 156.(2nd ed). Rare, 12 copies in OCLC.
The nearly identical name suggests it was meant to take advantage of the success of Eliza SMith's cookbook, but this one is much more wide ranging into etiquette, writing, drawing, medicine, flowers, how to negotiate marriage proposals if you are an orphan, the requisite reflections on the education of the fair sex, etc. One of the earliest books (the ninth) from the press of John Newbery.
Provenance: Mrs. Wadsworth (inscription), Alexander Copland (bookplate) Size: 8vo. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Cooking, Wine & Dining; Inventory No: CAT000973.
Price: $850.00