Penelope of Maandwerk aan het Vrouwelijk Geslacht - Bevattende: De Beschrijving en Afbeeling van allerhande soorten van vrouwelijke handwerken; benevens Eenige Lektuur, over onderwerpen uit den vrouwelijken kring - 8 volumes 1821-1835

G J A Beijerinck, Amsterdam, 1821. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket. Eight volumes (complete). In Dutch throughout. A VERY, VERY, VERY rare full set of 'Penelope'. Please note that this set does not include the plates or patterns. There is no evidence of them having been removed, consequently it is safe to accept that these volumes are as intended. All of the books have an ex-libris plate for Louis Vrijdag Jr, the Dutch fascist-sympathiser, publisher, arts-promoter, poet. The plates are bright. All volumes are half-leather with marbled boards. 'Penelope' was the first really successful women's magazine in Holland. It was astonishingly forward in business model, ideology and views for its time, questioning continually total subservience to the overwhelming patriarchy of home, faith and society. The volumes are in most pleasing condition. The paper was hand-laid. The printing clear and bold. Each are worn about the corners and edges and seams from shelving. The spine (two tones of leather), with gilt titling and decoration, has been burnished by handling and shelving. Vol I (pub 1821): note that 'Iets over Penelope' is missing (again there is no evidence of it having been removed). The first article gives a pleasing taste of what was to come: 'Moet een meisje trachten te behagen? zoo ja; door welke middelen? [Must a girl always please? If so, what does that mean?]'. Another: 'Is werkkring des mans belangrijker dan die der vrouw? [Is the work of man more important than that of the woman?]. The contents for this volume are very lightly tanned here and there; they bear their age lightly. The binding is fit and efficient. Vol II (IIde Deel): pub: 1823. The corners of the boards are much worn and depressed. The boards are scuffed, rubbed, worn from handling and shelving. They are steady and sure. The contents are gratifying. Whilst there are very occasional age/ storage marks, some areas of tanning, the occasional spotting of foxing, the pages are overwhelming healthy, clean and clear. Articles include: 'De ongehuwde staat kan ook belangrijk zijn [The unmarried state can be important]'. 'Moet men altijd en alles zeggen wat men denkt? [Must one always say what one thinks?]'. Volume III (IIIde Deel): pub: 1825. The spine has wear to the head and seams. The boards have wear, scuffing. The pages are benign. They have some creasing from shelving. There are patches, flushes of tanning, some age related spotting and marks - but only occasionally so. Articles include: 'Op die stormen van den 4den en 5den Feb 1825' [Articles on the storms of 4th and 5th Feb 1825].' These storms were devastating for The Netherlands and were the greatest disaster for the country for over a century. 'Ook onder Turken kunnen edele menschen zijn' [Even among the Turks there are noble people].' Volume IV (IVde Deel): pub 1826. A comfortable copy. The corners are worn, the spine seams are also a little worn. The boards are scuffed, lightly worn. They have handling and shelving wear. Otherwise the boards and spine are healthy and steady. The pages are wonderfully clean and clear, hale and assured. Articles include: 'Over de zoogenaamde verkoeling in de vriendschap' [About the so-called cooling in a friendship].' Articles of much literary intensity. Volume 5 (Vde deel): pub 1829. Please note that this volume does not have a contents page. A placid copy. The spine has shallow wear to the head and foot. The boards have wear to the corners and faces. There are slight handling and shelving marks. They are sound, sure. The contents are contented, certain. There are some age related marks, some light tanning to edges. Articles on faith, behaviour and expectations, and some dramatic pieces. Volume 6 (VIe Deel): pub. 1831. A docile copy. Please note that pp 94-108 are missing. An attempt at repair were made to the pages on either side of this absence. The leathered corners are worn and knocked from shelving, the edges and seams have shelving wear. The boards have handling marks, shelving marks and wear. The pages are a little aged. Of the set, the pages in this book are the most affected by age and shelving. There are spots, wear, marks. Nonetheless, the pages are genial, comfortable, clear, generous. Articles on religion in childhood, 'Vrouw in den zomer hares levens' [Woman in the summer of her life], and an article about keeping a diary. Volume 7 (VIIe Deel): 1833. The book is keen and competent. The articles are a little more philosophical (literally) in this volume with an article on Erasmus, the wisdom of God in his division of his creatures, how to behave when breaking up with friends, and a piece on Thomas a Kempis. The pages have a small puncture mark/ wear to the bottom corners through to page 152. There are some age and handling marks, some patches of very shallow tanning, some occasional spots of foxing. They are however, comfortable, confident, convivial, benevolent. Volume 8 (VIIIe deel). This volume has the contents listings for both volumes 5 and 6 (who were missing this information). This volume marked the end of publication for this extraordinary magazine, edited throughout by Mrs Schilperpoort Meerten with imagination, clear sight, skill. The boards are agreeably tranquil. The leathered corners have shelving wear. The edges are shelf-worn. The spine has wear to the foot and the bottom edges of the seams. The boards, despite their scuffing, handling marks, shelving wear. They are steady, sound. The pages are a little aged with areas of very shallow tanning. They have some age-related and handling marks, spots here and there. Articles include: 'Dagverhaal van eene reis naar de Kaap de Goede Hoop, en in de Binnelanden van Afrika, door Jonkvr. Augusta Uitenhage de Mist, in 1802 en 1803' a very, very rare pre-20th century printing of Augusta's journey through the Cape. Whilst the pages wear their age lightly, they are bountiful, benevolent, pleasurable. The set is clubbable, handsome, fascinating. fk. Our orders are shipped using tracked courier delivery services.