BLAND, James. An Essay in Praise of Women: Or, A Looking-glass for Ladies to See their Perfections in. London: printed for the Author and sold by J. Batley, 1733.

Rare first edition, printed for the author. There were two issues of the first edition published in 1733, one sold by J. Roberts and others and this one sold by J. Batley. Both issues are rare, with no copies appearing in the auction records of ABPC or RBH. James Bland was a London physician; his work proved so popular that a second edition was published in 1735 and a third in 1767. This copy has the errata neatly penned in within the text in a contemporary hand. ESTC N64642 (no copies in the British Isles, giving incorrect pagination, but this copy's pagination accords with the only copy cited in North America, at Duke University).

Octavo (199 x 120mm). Woodcut initials and other decorations. (Soiling to title, a few minor spots at ends.) Contemporary calf (rebacked with new endpapers, edges worn). Provenance: Thomas Gayfers (early ownership inscription to title).