Instructions for the Education of a Daughter, by the Author of 'Telemachus,' to Which is Added a Small Tract of Instructions for the Conduct of Young Ladies of the Highest Rank with Suitable Devotions Annexed. Translated and revised by Dr. George Hickes.
Edinburgh: Printed for James Reid, 1750. First Edinburgh edition. The first English edition was published in London for Jonah Bowyer in 1707. Binding extremities rubbed. Small chip at foot of spine. Minor split at top of rear joint, but holding soundly. Previous owner's signature removed from front pastedown. Light foxing. Contemporary full polished calf with red calf spine label. Six-paneled gilt spine. Twelvemo. 10], 283 pp. Copper engraved frontispiece. Item #16113
Francois de Salignac de la Mothe Fenelon (1651-1715) was a poet, writer, theologian and French Roman Catholic archbishop. Fenelon was ordained as a priest in 1675 and served as a missionary to the Huguenots during the reign of Louis XIV, as the church wished to convert them from Protestantism. Originally published as Traité de l'education des Filles, Fenelon's Instructions is considered a progressive work given its support and encouragement of female education; it has a particular emphasis on theological matters, which Fenelon believed was necessary so that they might better understand and refute heresies. He served as a tutor to the Dauphin's eldest son, the Duke of Burgundy and composed the works Fables and Dialogues des Morts for him. Fenelon's also wrote Les Aventures de Telemaque , which, upon its publication, infuriated Louis XIV, given the fact that it seemingly questioned the foundations of his regime. As a result, the king did not revoke an earlier order against Fenelon that forbade him to leave his archdiocese (a punishment for his previous Quietist views). Fenelon died in January of 1715.
ESTC lists six copies of this edition, three of which are in the U.S. (Columbia, University of Kansas, and University of Texas).
Price: $650.00