Instructions for the Education of a Daughter. To Which is Added a Small Tract of Instructions for the Conduct of Young Ladies of the Highest Rank.

FIRST EDINBURGH EDITION; leather-bound, hardcover, duodecimo (15.5 x 9 x 2.5 cm), pp. [10], 283. English text, translated from the original French by Dr. George Hickes. Bound in contemporary full calf, spine in five compartments with gilt bands and morocco lettering-piece. Condition: GOOD. Binding tight and secure. Covers with slight rubbing to extremities and minor abrasions. Interior lightly toned and lacking the copper engraved frontispiece but otherwise complete. Scarce. Notes: First Edinburgh edition. The first English edition was published in London for Jonah Bowyer in 1707 and translated by Dr. George Hickes. Francois de Salignac de la Mothe Fenelon (1651-1715) was a poet, writer, theologian and French Roman Catholic archbishop. Fenelon was ordained as a priest in 1675 and served as a missionary to the Huguenots during the reign of Louis XIV, as the church wished to convert them from Protestantism. Originally published as Trait de l'education des Filles, Fenelon's Instructions is considered a progressive work given its support and encouragement of female education; it has a particular emphasis on theological matters, which Fenelon believed was necessary so that they might better understand and refute heresies. He served as a tutor to the Dauphin's eldest son, the Duke of Burgundy and composed the works Fables and Dialogues des Morts for him. Fenelon's also wrote Les Aventures de Telemaque, which, upon its publication, infuriated Louis XIV, given that it seemingly questioned the foundations of his regime. As a result, the king did not revoke an earlier order against Fenelon that forbade him to leave his archdiocese (a punishment for his previous Quietist views). Fenelon died in January of 1715.…