The Housekeeping Book of Susanna Whatman, 1776-1800

46pp, with plate portrait frontispiece and woodcuts by Frank Martin. In cream coloured boards with gilt decorations and blue lettering (boards a little discoloured at edges). Internally neat, clean and bright. With an contemporary bookmark, likely promotional material at the time of publication, giving details of 1st trade edition. Susanna Whatman and the volume's publication. In its original glassine jacket (rubbed and chipped at edges, a little discoloured, minor loss at spine head. Much of Susanna Whatman's Housekeeping Book was written in 1776, in the first year of her marriage to James Whatman, a paper-maker and proprietor of Turkey Mill near Maidstone. As Mistress of Turkey Court in Kent, she wrote detailed instructions for her servants, adding to them as necessary throughout the following 24 years. The Housekeeping Book gives a fascinating picture of life below stairs in one of the great 18th houses. SLim 12mo.