A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN: With Strictures On Political And Moral Subjects Volume I
J. Johnston: London, 1796. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #22-2370
Full tree calf, highly gilt dec spine, red leather spine label with gilt lettering, gilt dec edges and dentelles, xiv, 452. Covers rubbed/scuffed, front outer hinge very badly cracked and holding on by a thread, rear outer hinge starting, spine rubbed, sunned and tips chipped, corners bumped and worn, edgeworn, one side of rear cover is slightly bumped, contemporary(?) ink name (Helen Clarke Lahey?) binding tight, contents very good condition. Pasted inside the front cover is an oval portrait of the author engraved by (William) Ridley from a c. 1796 portrait by (John) Opie with "Mrs. Wollstonecraft" printed below. Mary Wollstonecraft started out as a teacher and in 1788 became a translator for the publisher Joseph Johnston who published several of her books including "Vindication Of The Rights Of Women". This title is one of the great works of feminist writing. Through her work as a teacher she witnessed how the educational system did not address the intelligence of young women but "dumbed" them down while young men received superior educations. She felt that to allow both sexes equal access to education would improve the young women's lives as employees, wives and mothers. Third edition, Volume I, no other volumes were issued. Extremely SCARCE.
Price: $2,500.00