The Young Woman's Companion or Female Instructer: being a guide to all the accomplishments which adorn the female character.

8vo. (211x138mm), two Parts in one vol. pp: ii+[1]-320; [1]-344.(xii), engraved title page with title vignette, engraved frontispiece of "Truth Presenting Piety with the Records of the World to Come. Pub. Feb 17 1815 by Richd. Evans …. Spitalfields", (no printed title page to either Part and most probably not required), 6 plates between pp 266 & 267 in Part first and 2 plates between pp 64 & 65 in Part second, Index of xii pages at end for both Parts. The final leaf of Index at tail has printed 'Directions to the Binder' calling for 5 plates in part 1 and 1 plate in Part 2. The additional plate in Part 1 would appear to be a butchery chart of the cuts of various animals including a Turtle. Part 1 is cookery culminating in receipts and Part 2 is more general information for a young woman incl. geography, handwriting (illustrated with 2 plates), chronology, et al. Handmade calligraphic book label of 'Elizabeth Collyer 1816' pasted to front paste-down endpaper. An edition of this work, which probably dates from 1815 [date of frontis] and therefore earlier than the Bodleian copy (1820-1825). Joseph Gleave was active at various addresses in Manchester with Deansgate being his last. Marbled endpapers - an additional curiosity is that the marbled endpapers have been printed onto printed text which is just visible through the marbling, bound in full black calf, gilt ruled with gilt stamp to corners & gilt ruled spine lettered direct in gilt 'Cookery'. Extremities rubbed, corners bumped, loss to tail of spine, split to head of front hinge, however sound & tight with text browned & occ. foxing, very good. [Worldcat notes 'approximately 1820 - 1825'] referring to the copy in the Bodleian and noting CURL records the same spelling error - 'Instructer' in the title as this edition. J. Gleave was active in Manchester between 1820 and 1825 - cf Bodleian Library.