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Shahcoolen, A Hindu Philosopher in Philadelphia

KNAPP, SAMUEL LORENZO.

Letters of Shahcoolen, A Hindu Philosopher, Residing in Philadelphia; To His Friend El Hassan, an Inhabitant of Delhi.

Place and Imprint: Boston: Printed by Russell and Cutler, 1802.
Edition: First edition.
Bibliographical References: American Bibliography 2490; Sabin 38076.
Condition: The lower blank margins of four leaves trimmed; moderately foxed; edges a little rubbed; fine copy in original state, enclosed in a cloth clamshell box.
Book ID: 27369

Physical Description

12mo, original marbled paper boards, hand-lettered spine, untrimmed. With half-title.

Comments

The first book by Samuel Lorenzo Knapp (1783-1838), a series of 14 literary letters fashioned after Goldsmith and Montesquieu. Knapp writes about Mary Wollstonecraft and her influence on American women, women's rights in America, American poetry, with extracts from Joel Barlow and other Hartford Wits, etc. Knapp's Letters are one of the earliest examples of the literary essay in American literature; and they were glowingly dedicated to John Quincy Adams. Contemporary book label of Edmund Shalter on the front paste-down. Ink signature dated 1907 on the title-page.

Price: $650.00