The Works of...Sixth Edition

WITH A WATERCOLOR MINIATURE OF LADY MONTAGU PAINTED FOR PRESENTATION

MONTAGU, Mary Wortley. The Works of...Sixth Edition. Vol. II only (of 5). 8vo, presentation (?) brown morocco, elaborately gilt, inner gilt dentelles, purple silk end papers, pp. xi, [1] blank, 339, [1]; 103, a.e.g. London: Longman et al, 1817.

A composite volume made up for presentation being comprised of volume II plus signatures B-H4 of volume III, so as to include only Lady Montagu's letters written from her husband's embassy to the East. Tipped-in is a lovely watercolor miniature measuring 3 7/8 x 3", with manuscript calligraphic caption, "Copied from an Original Miniature of Lady Wortley Montague [sic] at Harrington House-by Lady Caroline Stanhope." The copyist was the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Harrington, later the wife of E. S. Stanford, M. P. The watercolor depicts Lady Montagu in Turkish costume and was copied by Lady Stanhope from the original painting by Christian Zincke which was owned by her father, the Earl of Harrington. Presentation copy, inscribed: "Given to Anna Maria Johnes Knight by Lady Caroline Stanhope & the Frontispiece painted by L[ad]y C[aroline] S[tanhope] 1829." The recipient was probably the daughter of Rev. S. Johnes Knight, rector of Welwyn in Hertfordshire. He was a friend of Lord North, and the man who refused to marry George IV to Mrs. Fiztherbert.