Essays on Practical Education...The third edition, in two volumes.
London: Printed for J. Johnson and Co, 1811. Third edition of “the most important work on general pedagogy to appear in this country between…Locke's Thoughts…and Herbert Spencer's Essay in 1861” (Muirhead, The English at School, 57). This edition, like the second, was revised by the authors, as enumerated in the “Advertisement to the Third Edition.” It contains additions and omissions, and the chapter on Arithmetick has been revised. With one plate in Volume I, opposite p. 56, and two folding plates at the end of Volume II. Light dampstain to lower edges of covers, extending to text occasionally. A good copy. Maria Edgeworth’s sister Anna Beddoes’ copy, signed by her on the front pastedown of Volume I, and on the title-page to Volume II. She later gave the volumes away, adding in the first volume “to C.H. Blandford. Contemporary calf, neatly rebacked, spines stamped in gilt. Two volumes, octavo. xv, [1], 491, [1, ads]; [4], 501, [1, ads] pp. Item #15274
“This book…has a real value in the history of education. Mr. Edgeworth's interest in the subject had been inspired by the study of Rousseau and by his friendship with Thomas Day. But he went beyond Rousseau, who developed his theories from his own ingenious mind and related an imaginary process. The Edgeworths brought a scientific method to their work. The second Mrs. Edgeworth (Honora Sneyd) began the collection of actual examples of conversations between the children and their elders. This was continued patiently by the writers of the book; and their reasonings were thus founded on an accurate record of childish methods of thought…” (Encyc. Brit., 13th ed.).
Anna Beddoes (1773-1824) was one of the younger children of Richard Lovell Edgeworth’s first marriage, to Anna Maria Elers, so the sisters shared their mother’s Christian names. In 1794 she married Thomas Beddoes, physician and chemist, and onetime radical political associate of Coleridge and Southey. The marriage produced the poet Thomas Lovell Beddoes. Slade 3C.
Price: $1,250.00