Letters of Shahcoolen, a Hindu Philosopher, Residing in Philadelphia; to his friend El Hassan, an inhabitant of Delhi
Boston: Russell and Cutlers, 1802. Very Good-. Item #47054
Philadelphia: Printed by Russell and Cutler (Proprietors of the Work), 1802. First Edition. 12mo (17cm); contemporary full sheep, red gilt spine label; 152pp. (lacking half title page, otherwise collated complete); woodcut tail-pieces throughout. Leather a bit scuffed and worn at corners and briefly along upper joint, a few surface scratches with tiny hole to upper cover leather, textblock brittle with closed tears to a few leaves without loss of meaning; overall Good to Very Good.
A series of philosophical pastiches originally serialized in the Commercial Advertiser and written "In the character of a Native of Hindustan" (from the Advertisement of the Publishers). One of the earliest letters in the collection pertains to Mary Wollstonecraft's recently published "A Vindication of the Rights of Women," described here as "composed, for the express purpose of rousing her sex from their inglorious repose, and of stimulating them to a vigorous exertion of their native energies" (p. 22).
Shaw & Shoemaker 2490.
Price: $250.00