A Portraiture of Shakerism. Exhibiting a general view of their character and conduct, from the first appearance of Ann Lee in New-England, down to the present time. And certified by many respectable authorities
[Concord, N.H.]: Printed for the author, 1822. First edition. Hardcover. Octavo. xvi, 17-446pp. Original half leather over brown paper-covered boards with gilt lettering and ruling on black leather label of spine, house in burgundy cloth clamshell box with gilt lettering on spine. "The author has endeavored, while exposing to the world the dark side of the picture, to give it no deeper shade than the light of truth will warrant. And although she has endured innumerable wrongs, she can say in conscious truth, that her only object in giving to the world this history, is, that the unsuspecting may not be entrapped by the apparent virtue and rectitude of the people called Shakers." (Title page).
This elaborate treatise of the Shakers contains remarks on the public testimony of and the treatment of the Shakers. Part two deals with the suffering of the author as a consequence of the "Deception and Cruelty" of the Shakers. Binding heavily worn along edges with two inch triangle at lower right corner missing. Boards scuffed and chipped, spine cuffed. Two front free endpapers partially missing with fragments of inked note clearly visible. Title page with triangular chip at lower foredge and subsequent pages through page fifty with creasing and small tears and chips at lower right corner. Pages 161–164 loose but present. Moderate foxing throughout with light water staining at foredge. Box with library bar code on front cover, else in fine condition. Binding and interior of book in fair to good condition. fair to near fine. Item #42672
Price: $475.00