A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects. By Mary Wollstonecraft. London: J. Johnson, 1792.
THE RARE FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST IMPORTANT FEMINIST WORKS.
-------------------
"As well as being a classic of Enlightenment philosophy, it is probably the earliest sustained philosophical argument for gender equality in English’" (Berges, The Routledge Guidebook, 2013, pp.x). Wollstonecraft's Vindication remains a seminal work in the history of Feminism, and the contemporary reaction to the publication of this book was huge. Horace Walpole famously called Mary Wollstonecraft a "hyena in petticoats".
The book is incredibly scarce in contemporary boards as with this copy, and even though having been finely rebacked, it remains an attractive example of this very important work. Though the final page of text states "End of the first volume", no second volume was ever printed.
-------------------
Size: 134 x 211 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), [a²], [b⁸], [B¹⁻²], B³-Z⁸, 2A-2G², (1)]
Contemporary half calf binding, finely rebacked with a 20th century spine, very attractive on the shelf indeed. Scarce with contemporary boards. A fine tooled red morocco label is affixed to the spine between raised bands, the compartments lined in gilt. The binding is secure with both boards securely attached, without shelf lean. The blanks are contemporary with the rebacking. 20th century ownership stamp to front pastedown and matching ownership inscription to head of ffep verso. The title page and all pages up to pp.4 are provided in 20th century facsimile, the originals are lacking, and hence are bracketed in the collation above (all up to and including B2). Thereafter, the book collates as complete, this includes the complete text of the book which begins on pp.15. The half title is present and is bound opposite pp.15 as usual. The extant text block is in excellent condition, mildly toned around the edges (as with all copies), else very clean throughout, fully legible. A very attractive copy of Wollstonecraft's magnum opus, very finely restored.
[ESTC T50903; Windle A5a].
