MEMOIRS OF CELEBRATED WOMEN by JAMES, G. P. R - 1837

London: Richard Bentley. Beautifully bound in polished midnight blue calf. 1837. 1st edition. 8vo, pp. 301, 300. This is the original publication, in a beautiful presentation binding - not one of those cheap print-on-demand paperbacks. . George Payne Rainsford James (1799-1860) was a British novelist and historical writer. He was British counsul in Massachusetts from 1850-1852, and in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1852. He died in Venice, where he was consul-general. His brief preface to this book claims that "The Work which follows was written some years ago by a Lady, a near relation of the Editor, and a person of very high talents and information. Her absence from England and the difficulty of transmitting proofs to her for correction, have induced her to entrust the revision of her work, as it passes through the press, to her Nephew; who, having obtained some degree of reputation in the literary world, is bound, for his own sake, to give as much attention as possible to any thing he undertakes to edit." The "celebrated women" in this set include Joan of Arc, Margaret of Anjou, Lady Jane Grey, Marchioness of Maintenon, Queen Elizabeth, and Donna Maria Pancheco. The binding is very finely done by Zaehnsdorf, with a charming arborial bookplate of Belle McCullough on the inside front board of each volume. The board edges carry two gilt rulles with corner florets, and pointilled edges. The endpapers are marbled. The contents are clean and tight, with only a few pages showing some careles marginal soiling. Altogether, in very good condition. .