A charming early American rarity compiled to advise young women on social and moral questions and advise on how to conduct one’s life, this is the 1794 Philadelphia revised addition with Miss More’s, Mrs. Chapon’s and Mr. Swift’s letters added to first edition contents. Contains Miss More’s Essays, Dr. Gregory’s Legacy to his Daughters, Lady Pennington’s Unfortunate Mother’s Advice to her Daughters, Mrs. Chapon’s Letter on the Government of the Temper, Swift’s Letter to a Young Lady Newly Married, and Moore’s Fables for the Female Sex. 

More was famous as a playwright, and she was one of the Blue-stockings and an intimate of David Garrick. As a former teacher she also wrote educational pieces such as these Essays. More later became known for writing against social injustice, including the slave trade which was based in part in her home town of Bristol.

Philadelphia: Printed by Matthew Carey for R. Folwell, 1794. 293, (iii), 4 pages. 12mo. 17 x 11.5 x 3cm. Original leather binding, rubbed edges and a crack to the hinge. Repair by Bainbridge Conservation to reattach and secure boards with thread extensions. Foxing on inside cover and pages. Two worn holes in pages, loss due to deliberate tear of top of pages 287, 289. Discolouration and spotting throughout. With errors in page numbering 99-113 not affecting contents, as documented for this edition. Overall a very good copy. Owner’s name neatly inscribed on the first page of Miss More’s essays and the first page of Mr. Moore’s Fables. ESTC lists 13 copies in North America.