[Literature] (Jocelin, Elizabeth). The Mother's Legacy to Her Unborn Child

London: Printed and Sold by Joseph Downing, 1722. 24mo. xlviii, 94 pp.; lacking final leaf (F12). Edited by Thomas Goad. Full contemporary brown calf, ruled in gilt, front board detached, lightly worn; all edges trimmed; small 18th century sketch of a costumed man mounted on front paste-down, with "Fowler" in manuscript below same; A6-7 sprung, same leaves trimmed close at fore-edge affecting some letters and with wear along top edge; scattered spotting and wear to leaves; ink stamp of The Valentine Museum on rear paste-down. ESTC T229453

An extremely rare 1722 edition of this very popular and powerful work by Elizabeth Jocelin. First published in 1624, two years after Jocelin's death from childbirth at the age of 27, the work is composed as spiritual guidance from a mother to her unborn child. In 1624 English clergyman Thomas Goad (1576–1638) edited and published Jocelin's manuscript, which was afterwards reprinted dozens of times well into the 19th century (seven editions alone appeared between 1624-35). The original manuscript is now held in the British Museum.

This is one of only two known copies of this 1722 edition, the other held in the British Library (that copy is imperfect and is lacking one text leaf and with one additional leaf mutilated). According to RBH, no copies of this edition have ever appeared at auction. Furthermore, no copies are found on OCLC, while LibraryHub locates only the above mentioned British Library copy.

A rare survival, most early editions are extant in only a handful of copies.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance

Deaccessioned by the Valentine Museum to benefit collections care, preservation, and future acquisitions

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Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] (Jocelin, Elizabeth). The Mother's Legacy to Her Unborn Child

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] (Jocelin, Elizabeth). The Mother's Legacy to Her Unborn Child

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