Memoirs of Eminently Pious Women, Who Were Ornaments to Their Sex -- Blessings to Their Families -- and Edifying Examples to the Church and the World. Abridged from the Large Work of Dr. Gibbons,
London: By Daniel Dana, A.M. Newburyport: Printed for the Subscribers by Angier, March 1803. First edition, thus. Dana revised Thomas Gibbons' text, the first edition of which was entitled Female Worthies; or, the Lives and Memoirs of Eminently Pious Women (1775/1776)...because he felt that "certain obvious infelicities attached to the work seem much calculated to obstruct its circulation and usefulness. To remedy these infelicities, has been the aim of the editor of this volume." (Preface). Binding extremities have some rubbings and wear. Front joint is cracked, but sound. Gilt on spine is slightly faded. Light foxing and browning, slight offsetting, and intermittent slight dampstaining. Small tear to lower margin of page 57, not affecting text. Small hole on page 113, slightly affecting text. Small marginal hole and stain on page 349, resulting in the less of a few letters. Small marginal stain on page 351, affecting text. Contemporary bookplate on front end pastedown and contemporary signature on preliminary blank. A very good copy. Contemporary calf with a gilt-ruled and gilt-lettered burgundy spine label. Twelvemo. 396 pp. Item #16249
Daniel Dana (1771-1859) further states, "the usefulness of biography is equally obvious and acknowledged. No species of writing seems so happily calculated at once to inform the mind, to improve the taste, to meliorate the heart. By exhibiting goodness in an alluring but practical form; by presenting excellence actually attained, with the various means and steps to its acquisition; it furnishes us with some of the best possible excitements to be what we ought to be." (Preface). The women featured in Dana's revision include Lady Jane Grey, Mary, Queen of Great Britain, Queen Catharine Parr, and others. The majority of the subjects are of English nobility.
Dr. Thomas Gibbons (1720-1785) was a nonconformist minister and writer of Gibbons other works include Juvenilia; poems on various subjects of devotion and virtue (1750) and Sermons on evangelical and practical subjects (3 vols, 1787).
Price: $300.00