[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

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