Female Eccentrics (1 results)

[TITLE CONINUES}. and others who have distinguished themselves by their chastity, dissipation, intrepidity, learning, abstinence, credulity, &c., &c., alphabetically arranged : forming a pleasing mirror of reflection to the female mind. Small 8vo, pp [10], 349, with engraved portrait frontispiece and a further 7 portraits of notable women, bound in original plain unlettered tree sheep, rubbed and worn at corners, joints and spine ends, joints lichtly cracked but holding soundly considering the fragile construction, internally with light browning and offsetting, but a sound copy, FIRST EDITION; this curious little volume, sequel to a similar collection on male characters, both based on an earlier general collection, explores various aspects of the feminist world, both historical [Joan of Arc etc] and contemporary [Mary Woolstencraft with portrait as 'Mrs Goodwin']. Whether one sees this as feminist or anti-feminist literature depends on one's historical perspective but the use of Chavalier D'Eon's portrait [as a man, of course] as frontispiece is perhaps telling. A scarce and interesting compilation, this copy is complete with all eight portraits. It is likely that the cheap sheep leather binding rarely survives intact.…