English Gentlewoman, Drawne Out to the Full Body: expressing, what habilliments doe best attire her, what ornaments doe best adorne her, what complements doe best accomplish her.

London: rinted by B. Alsop and T. Fawcet, for Michaell Sparke, 1631. Full Description:

BRATHWAIT, Richard. The English Gentlewoman, Drawne Out to the Full Body expressing, what habilliments doe best attire her, what ornaments doe best adorne her, what complements doe best accomplish her. London: Printed by B. Alsop and T. Fawcet, for Michaell Sparke,, 1631.

First edition. The Bradley Martin copy. Small folio (6 3/4 x 5 1/4 inches; 1475 x 130 mm). [48], 221, [23] pp. With additional elaborately engraved title-page by William Marshall, and the rare folding plate of explanation for the engraved title. With the unpaginated leaves of Appendix and Errata at end. With engraved historiated initials at the beginning of each section.

Bound by Wallis in early 20th century full modern calf, boards double-ruled in blind. Spine with two red morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt. Boards sunned. Outer hinges repaired. With previous owner's bookplates on endpapers, (Fox Pointe Collection on front free, Bradley Martin on back pastedown). Some professional repairs to the folding plate, with minor loss of text. A small closed tear to leaf Z2, barely affecting text. Some occasional light dampstaining and a few minor rust spots (leaf b2 just barely touching a letter). Margins are occasionally trimmed close, sometimes affecting the printed boarder or headline. Appendix leaves have been washed. Overall a very good copy.

The engraved title page by W. Marshall, who also engraved the famous portrait of Shakespeare, is divided into compartments and represents allegories of the eight qualities Brathwait treats, (Apparell, Behaviour, Complement, Decency, Estimation, Fancy, Gentility, and Hunour). Figures are adorned in contemporary costume.

Brathwait's famous treatises on English manners, courtesy, and conduct for the English gentility. In addition to his observations on such qualities as Estimation, Honour, and Decency; Brathwait intersperses imperatives addressed to his contemporary readers directly.

ESTC S106150. Pforzheimer 78.

HBS 68589.

$6,500.