SCOTTISH HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS - INTERESTING WRAPPERS

[Edinburgh, Merchant Maiden Hospital]: The Rules and Constitutions for governing and managing the maiden-hospital, founded by the company of merchants, and Mary Erskine, in anno 1695... Edinburgh, printed by Robert Fleming and company, 1731. 

Copy in interesting stab-stitched binding of this updated edition of the rules for governing the Merchant Maiden Hospital, a charitable foundation established in Edinburgh in 1695 by Mary Erskine (d. 1707) to house and educate destitute women and girls. The rules and constitutions had previously been printed in 1702, 1707, and 1708. The text here was amended to incorporate a new Act of Contributors of 10 February 1718, with implications for chapters 5 and 15 (respectively restricting quorum size among governors, and increasing the cost required for patronage). We have not been able to identify the papermaker whose initials ‘S. R.’ appear in the border of the decorative paper wrappers.

Description

One volume, 15 x 9.5 cms in binding, octavo, pp. xi [i] [6] 46. Printed headpieces, tailpieces, and initials. Stab-stitched with green thread, decorative wrappers of pink paper stamped with a grid of interlacing floral tiles, and the initials S. R. at border of design. Condition (textblock): light browning and staining.

Condition (binding): slightly rubbed and with one small stain to upper cover, but a well-preserved example.

Bibliography

ESTC T137117 (accessed via printprobability.org surrogate).