Charles Brockden Brown, 1799 and 1800

[BROWN, Charles Brockden (1771-1810).] Arthur Mervyn; or Memoirs of the Year 1793. [With:] The Second Part. Philadelphia: H. Maxwell, 1799 and 1800.

First edition of both parts of Brown's popular plague novel, in uniform contemporary bindings. A quintessential example of "Philadelphia Gothic," the action takes place during the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 in that city. The eponymous hero has a series of harrowing encounters with shady characters, but eventually falls in love with and marries a virtuous Jewish widow named Achsa Fielding—one of the first Jewish characters in American literature. The second volume is particularly rare, and the only set to come to auction recorded by RBH in living memory was a mixed set. The present set has been together from an early period, having been owned by several generations of the same Pennsylvania family. BAL 1498 and 1501; Evans 35243.

Two volumes, 12mo (171 x 105mm). (Stains, one signature in vol 1 just shaved; a few tears in vol 2, one of which with loss of a few words.) Contemporary half sheep with paper boards (hinges neatly repaired, restorations); custom slipcase and chemises. Provenance: Ann Underwood Steel, of Carlisle, PA (inscriptions, including gift inscription to her eldest son:) – Joseph Underwood Steel, 1837-1863 (numerous inscriptions throughout both volumes and on front board of vol 1) – Morrison Underwood Steel, 1843-1878, third son of Ann (signatures in both volumes) – John Ephraim Steel, 1845-1898, last son of Ann (signature).