Harriet MARTINEAU

First edition.

Beige half half contemporary bindings, flat spines, elaborate gilt tooling beneath the black calf title labels, volume numbering stamped at foot, upper joint worn on vol. I, rubbing to edges, corners and boards, headband loose on vol. I, combed paper pastedowns with small loss to lower board of vol. I, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, all edges marbled.

First edition of the debut novel by English feminist and abolitionist Harriet Martineau, a pioneering work in raising public awareness of gender equality and public health.

This handsomely bound copy once formed part of the library of her contemporary Lady Tyrconnel at...