A Vindication of the Rights of Woman with Strictures of Political and Moral Subjects. 2nd American Edition Mary Wollstonecraft (mother of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein)

Scarce 2nd US/American Edition of Mary Wollstonecraft's long essay/treatise on women's rights. George Washington was President when this book was printed. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman with Strictures of Political and Moral Subjects. Hardcover Second (2nd) American Edition Philadelphia: Mathew Carey, 1794. Appears to be only one of two editions printed in America prior to 1800. Collation: (lacking end paper), Title page, Contents, Dedication to M. Talleyrand-Perigord, Late Bishop of Autun. (iii-iv), Introduction (viii-xvii), Advertisement (xviii), Main Text of Vindication (1-333), former owner signatures and dates, end-paper. Condition: Good only. Leather binding is holding but chipped at the top, darkening to title page and first few pages. Does get a bit brighter towards the middle. Last text page present with "The End" but frayed and chipped at the sides. Has several former owners names from the very early 19th century, presumably American women. A survivor to be sure. Regarded as the earliest essay in English to address the need for women's rights. It was a response to 18th century morays which held that women need not be educated. Interestingly Mary Wollstonecraft was the mother of Mary who married the poet Percy Byshe Shelley and authored "Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus". The true first edition of "Vindication of the Rights of Woman" was published in England by J. Johnson, London, 1792 (prices begin at about $25,000), and the first US edition the same year, 1792 by William Gibbons in Philadelphia (there are two copies for sale at this writing, on for $8500 and the other for $12,500). This second American edition may be more scarce. I could find very few copies on Worldcat.org, save one which was formerly owned by Susan B. Anthony. Based on my research, one of only two editions printed in the US prior to 1800. Many more editions were printed in London. NOTE: The pictures are of the actual book for sale. Generally sales are FINAL unless there was a gross misrepresentation of edition and condition. This happens rarely as I try to do thorough research and describe all condition issues as accurately as possible.