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By the Author of Mentoria: Or, the Young Lady's Instructor

MURRY, ANN.

Poems on Various Subjects.

Place and Imprint: London: Printed for the Author; Sold by Edward and Charles Dilly, J. Robson, and J. Walter, 1779.
Edition: First edition.
Bibliographical References: ESTC T42668 (six copies in the UK and six in the US); Jackson, Romantic Poetry by Women, page 241.
Condition: Binding well rubbed, but text fine, with large margins; a handsome copy, save for the fore-edges. Enclosed in a custom brown cloth slipcase.
Book ID: 28077

Physical Description

4to, full vellum in the manner of Edwards of Halifax, figural drawings on the upper and lower boards, black leather spine labels, marbled paper endpapers, gilt decorations and lettering. Eight-page list of subscribers.

Comments

An accomplished and entertaining collection of over 30 poems and four poetical dialogues by educator Ann Murry (1750-1818 or after), whose courtesy book Mentoria: Or, the Young Lady's Instructor (1788), went through many editions. Murry, the daughter of a wine merchant, was a school teacher and private tutor, and the access she had to the upper classes reveals itself in her gently satirical dialogues between Lady Prattle and Lady Trifle during a card game; Mr. and Mrs. Wealthy over what to do with themselves; and a fashionable couple over what to do with their children: "As for the Girls I'll send them all to France / Where they will learn to chatter French and dance . . . / The Boys I mean to thrive by Trade or Law; / And bring them up with due respect and awe. / Charles, who I think is something of an Ass, / May do, perhaps, at Bombay or Madras." In the 20th century a double fore-edge painting was applied to this copy, which depict Ravarscraig Castle, Wouldham Church, Magdalen College and St. John's College. 20th century bookplate on the front paste-down of Jean S. and A. Watson Armour, residents of Lake Forest, Illinois.

Price: $2,750.00