Himself: The Autobiography of a Hindu Lady

New York and Toronto: Longmans, Green and Co., 1938. 8vo, xiv, 253 p., original blue cloth with spine stamped in black, with head pieces by Louise Spalding Carter. First edition of this scarce autobiography by the Indian social reformer. Ramabai Ranade (1862-1924) was a women's rights advocate in pre Independence India and one of the twentieth century's first women's rights figures. Among her most notable achievements was the founding of the Pune Seva Sadan which provided shelter and education to Indian women; in 1921, she organized the Women's Suffrage Movement in Bombay Presidency, a position which she held until here death. This is a true first edition, which first edition statement to copyright page, and price of $2.00 to jacket. Spine faded and discolored, with some wear and chafing to corners, but a sound clean copy, in a nice example of the jacket, with a 2" closed tear to lower spine; chipping (w loss) to upper spine tip; small scuff top page ends, but a handsome example overall of a book which is scarce on the market.…