The Ornaments Discovered: A Story Founded on Facts (The Boy's and Girl's Library, XVIII)
New York: Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1860. Very Good. Item #9579
New York: Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1860. 16mo (16x10x1.5cm); 194pp. Engraved frontis with tissue guard; preliminary additional illustrated title page republished, as a bibliographic ornament, from the 1833 edition. Hunter green publisher's cloth with gilt spine stamping; blind stamped borders and publisher's monogram on front and rear panels. Very slight wear to crown and foot of spine; slightest rubbing and bumping at panel corners.
Mary Hughes—note the "e"—was a British author of Christian stories for children; her marriage took her to Philadelphia where she was hailed (she later said) as a beloved author, and where she founded a high-minded school for girls. All true enough. There are no signs, however, that this particular copy of her high-minded tale about true vs. specious ornaments was ever read. It is as clean and neat as she might have wished her pupils' souls to be.
Price: $50.00