THE QUEENS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY

Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1873. Sixth Edition. Hardcover. Very good. Among the first historians to record the lives of women who contributed to the early history of the United States, Ellet (1818-77) was well known for her involvement with a public scandal involving Edgar Allan Poe and Frances Sargent Osgood and, later, another involving Rufus Wilmot Griswold. Octavo: [ii], 464 pp. with a frontispiece portrait and 13 full-page plates, all steel engravings with mezzotint. The title page is printed in black and red. All edges trimmed, with brown coated endpapers. In the publisher's terra cotta diagonal fine-ribbed cloth binding, with black-stamped ruled and floral ornamental surrounds, and titling and gilt-stamped eagle, draped flags, crown, lily, and rose decorations. The rear board repeats the design from the front panel, except executed in blind-stamp. Just a hint of foxing to the frontispiece portrait and opposing leaves. The front hinge is just starting. Light rubbing to the corners and tips; else very good or better. Provenance: from the Publishers' Bookbindings collection of Ellen K. Morris and Edward S. Levin. (Inventory #: 77918)