Original Stories From Real Life; With Conversations, Calculated To Regulate The Affections And Form The Mind To Truth And Goodness. Wollstonecraft, Mary.

Second edition of Mary Wollstonecraft's only work written directly for children, in which the wise and rational governess Mrs Mason educates her "shamefully ignorant" charges Mary and Caroline, who "had caught every prejudice that the vulgar casually instil", towards rational right-mindedness through a sequence of original stories. This second edition of 1791 was issued with illustrations by William Blake. Annotated on the front free endpaper verso: "Robt Henry Cheney 1st Jany 1805 - The gift of his good Aunt Miss Eliza Cheney - Given by him to Harriet Margaret Cheney March 1816 - Who has given it to Alfred Capel Cure." Alfred Capel-Cure was an officer in the British Army, a pioneer of photography, and the nephew of artist and photographer Robert Henry Cheney. Bentley 514A; ESTC T43449; Windle A3b. Octavo (172 x 100 mm). Contemporary tree calf, rebacked, flat spine divided into compartments with gilt roll decoration and device, morocco label. With frontispiece and five plates designed and engraved by William Blake. Engraved armorial bookplate to front pastedown, contemporary ownership signature "E. Cheney" to head of title, the front free endpaper verso further annotated (see below). Professionally rebacked, board edges rubbed and corners worn, some scattered spotting and light soiling, with offset from plates and pressed flowers to some leaves (the flowers no longer present). A very good copy, the plates in good impressions.