Women Writers

A group of four works by two of the leading women writers of the Restoration, all first editions in contemporary bindings, in octavo (3) and folio (1) format.

Katherine Philips,"The Matchless Orinda," as her admirers called her, was widely considered an exemplar of the ideal woman writer: virtuous, proper, and chaste. She was frequently contrasted to the more daring Aphra Behn, to the latter's detriment. Behn is regarded as England's first major professional woman writer, who outspokenly supported equality of the sexes.  

A group of four works by two of the leading women writers of the Restoration, all first editions in contemporary bindings, in octavo (3) and folio (1) format. Aphra Behn. Poems Upon Several Occasions: With a Voyage to the Island of Love. London: Printed for R. Tonson and J. Tonson, 1684. 8vo. Title within double-ruled border, "A Voyage to the Island of Love" (caption title) has separate pagination and register; lacks blank L2, L2 bound at the end of "Voyage"; without the frontispiece portrait called for by O'Donnell, as is the case with most copies. Contemporary speckled calf; upper right corner of front board chewed, restoration to spine.(Wing B1757; ESTC R15250; Grolier, Wither to Prior 38; O'Donnell A18.1a). provenance: Lord Viscount Lymington. acquisition: E.M. Lawson — Katherine Philips. Poems by the Incomparable Mrs. K.P. London: Printed by J[ohn]. G[rismond]. for Rich. Marriott, 1664. 8vo. Blank leaf and errata leaf (? Q7,8) bound at the end; marginal browning to title-page. Contemporary calf; some restoration to spine. First (unauthorized) edition (Wing P2032; ESTC R133274). provenance: Frederick Spiegelberg. acquisition: John Fleming. — Idem. Poems by the Most Deservedly Admired Mrs. Katherine Philips. The Matchless Orinda. To Which is Added ... Corneille's Pompey & Horace, Tragedies. With Several Other Translations Out of French. London: Printed by J[ohn]. M[acock]. for H. Herringman, 1667. Folio. Engraved frontispiece portrait bust of "Orinda" by William Faithorne; some browning. Contemporary red morocco paneled gilt. Second edition, (first unauthorized) edition (Wing P2033; ESTC R10200; Hayward 116). — Idem. Letters from Orinda to Poliarchus. London: Printed by W[illiam]. B[owyer]. for Bernard Lintott, 1705. 8vo. Title within double-ruled border, engraved frontispiece portrait bust of "Orinda" after Faithorne by Michael Vandergucht. Contemporary red morocco paneled in gilt Cambridge-style. (ESTC T75101). provenance: William Trumbull, Esq. "Poliarchus" was Sir Charles Cotterel, master of ceremonies at the Court of the Restoration.
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Aphra Behn. Poems Upon Several Occasions: With a Voyage to the Island of Love. London: Printed for R. Tonson and J. Tonson, 1684. 8vo. Title within double-ruled border, "A Voyage to the Island of Love" (caption title) has separate pagination and register; lacks blank L2, L2 bound at the end of "Voyage"; without the frontispiece portrait called for by O'Donnell, as is the case with most copies. Contemporary speckled calf; upper right corner of front board chewed, restoration to spine. (Wing B1757; ESTC R15250;  Grolier/Wither to Prior 38; O'Donnell A18.1a). provenance: Lord Viscount Lymington. acquisition: E.M. Lawson — Katherine Philips. Poems by the Incomparable Mrs. K.P. London: Printed by J[ohn]. G[rismond]. for Rich. Marriott, 1664. 8vo. Blank leaf and errata leaf (? Q7,8) bound at the end; marginal browning to title-page. Contemporary calf; some restoration to spine. First (unauthorized) edition (Wing P2032; ESTC R133274). provenance: Frederick Spiegelberg. acquisition: John Fleming. — Idem. Poems by the Most Deservedly Admired Mrs. Katherine Philips. The Matchless Orinda. To Which is Added ... Corneille's Pompey & Horace, Tragedies. With Several Other Translations Out of French. London: Printed by J[ohn]. M[acock]. for H. Herringman, 1667. Folio.  Engraved frontispiece portrait bust of "Orinda" by William Faithorne; some browning. Contemporary red morocco paneled gilt. Second edition, (first unauthorized) edition (Wing P2033; ESTC R10200; Hayward 116). provenance: Mrs. Anne Cren.  — Idem. Letters from Orinda to Poliarchus. London: Printed by W[illiam]. B[owyer]. for Bernard Lintott, 1705. 8vo. Title within double-ruled border, engraved frontispiece portrait bust of "Orinda" after Faithorne by Michael Vandergucht. Contemporary red morocco paneled in gilt Cambridge-style. (ESTC T75101). provenance: William Trumbull, Esq. "Poliarchus" was Sir Charles Cotterel, master of ceremonies at the Court of the Restoration.