Hand Book of the New York State Reformatory at Elmira

Octavo (23.5 cm); 92 pp of text; 80 pp. of plates; large fold-out plate of New York State Reformatory Inmate Military Organization measuring approximately 48 x 18.5". Red, gilt-stamped cloth; corners bumped and a trifle worn. Previous owner's name stamped to bottom edge and title page verso. Easily a very good plus copy with the scarce fold-out plate affixed to the front endpaper. Curiously the 1916 edition seems to be less scarce then this later edition of the hand book, but regardless, we find no other copies with the fold-out plate still attached. Elmira was established "for the reception of male felons, between the ages of sixteen and thirty, not previously convicted of any crime punishable by imprisonment in a state prison," and first began receiving prisoners in 1876. This hand book outlines in detail, and with nearly 100 black & white photographs, the duties of the inmates and the physical description of the many buildings and spaces making up the reformatory.