1827 Book Promotes Education in the Sciences for Girls title On the Improvement of the Mind

[Women’s Education] Chapone, Hester; Gregory, John; Pennington, Sarah. Chapone Letters on the Improvement of the Mind; Dr. Gregory’s Legacy to his Daughters; Lady Pennington’s Advice to her Absent Daughters; with an additional Letter on the Management and Education of Infant Children. London: Scott, Webster, & Geary, c. 1827. Marbled leather boards. 32mo, approximately 3.25” x 5.5” inches. 262 pages. Two engravings, a frontispiece with tissue guard and a title page illustration. Early edition of this omnibus of foundational works in women’s education. The individual texts brought together in this publication were all wildly successful and went through (truncated) multiple editions in both Europe and the United States. While “conduct books” aimed toward's women's self-improvement became popular in the mid-19th century, this edition is remarkable for encouraging rational understanding and free thought in young women through a proper education (Chapone), as well as defending a woman’s right to follow her conscience, over blind obedience to marriage vows or social codes (Pennington, who divorced her husband and was cut off from her children). This illustrated edition of Mrs Hester Chapone's conduct book. Written for her niece, who was 15 years old at the time. Throughout the letters Chapone encourages rational understanding through reading history and literature. She explicitly states that sentimental novels are to be avoided. With four illustrated plates and an illustrated title page. The topics discussed range from economy, government, politeness, religion as well as the heart and affections. Chapone's Letters were written when the popularity of advice or conduct books were at its peak. It had over 28 editions printed and first editions are extremely rare, this is an early edition. including a French translation. in very good condition. (Inventory #: 16559)