Marriage Rites, Customs And Ceremonies of the Nations of the Universe

London: Printed by and for J. Smith, 1822. An Englishwoman's Take on Global Marriage Customs Hamilton, Lady Marianna Augusta (1805-1892). Marriage Rites, Customs, And Ceremonies, of the Nations of the Universe. London: Printed by and for J. Smith, 1822. [ii], viii, 400 pp. With a copperplate portrait frontispiece and 4 plates. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5"). Contemporary blind-paneled calf, gilt fillets to boards, rebacked retaining gilt spine, gilt tooling to board edges, marbled edges. A few nicks and scratches to boards, moderate rubbing and light wear to extremities, including corners, which are bumped and worn, front hinge cracked, rear hinge starting at top. Light toning to interior, occasional light foxing, small tear to fore-edge of leaf E4 (pp. 31-32), small hole to title page under author name without loss to legibility. $150. * One of two 1822 issues. This fascinating account of international marital customs covers nations and territories from the South Sea Islands to California, spanning almost every continent. Lady Hamilton likely traveled herself given her husband's extensive military service, but draws primarily on accounts "collected from the labors of enlightened travelers and navigators" such as Lady Mary Wortley Montague and Lewis and Clark (iv). The work concludes with a brief summary of English law respecting marriage. Sabin, A Dictionary of Books Relating to America 29999. See Kathryn Gleadle, Radical Writing on Women, 1800-1850: An Anthology (2002), p. 115. …