The Ladies Calling, anon, but attributed to Richard Allestree, first Scottish edition, 1675 Edinburgh printing by James Glen
The Ladies Calling. Edinburgh: James Glen, 1675. First Scottish Edition.
The Ladies Calling (first published London, 1673 and attributed to Richard Allestree) is a devotional and conduct manual addressed to women, urging them to embrace a life of Christian piety and moral discipline. It sets out the virtues expected of 17th century Anglican society - modesty, humility, chastity, obedience, patience, and charity - while warning against vanity, idleness, and indulgence. With chapters on the duties of wives and widows, it presents the female "calling" as primarily domestic and spiritual, guiding women to cultivate virtue within the household and to live faithfully in preparation for salvation.
This copy lacks the title page, but is identifiable as the first Scottish printing (Edinburgh: James Glen, 1675) by its distinctive pagination: 18 preliminary pages beginning "The Editor to the Reader," followed by 288 pages of main text and one unnumbered "Contents" page. An early and uncommon reprint of the London 1673 original.
Provenance: Cortachy Castle library (small label to first pastedown). Cortachy Castle is a historic mansion house in Angus, Scotland, dating from the 15th century. The Part I title bears the signature of Margaret Fyffe, while the rear carries the ownership inscription of Clementina Graham, recording that she was gifted the book in 1774.
Condition: A good copy in contemporary full calf, worn with scuffing and losses to extremities. Binding somewhat fragile with text block edges curved rather than flat. Text generally clean though age toned; the first two leaves torn and creased, with one corner loss affecting a few lines of text.
An aged but appealing copy of a scarce 17th century publication, of particular interest for its early Scottish printing and notable provenance.
Text in English.
Dimensions: approximately 126 x 80 x 25 mm.
Weight: Approximately 200g (unpacked).