THE LADIES' OWN MEMORANDUM-BOOK [...] FOR THE YEAR 1798

London: Printed for G.G. & J. Robinson, 1797. Very good.. Pocketbook of the same kind used by the acclaimed novelist and playwright Elizabeth Inchbald, with many portions filled in by a contemporary owner. Elizabeth Inchbald kept a thin but regular pocketbook diary for more than fifty years, recording her expenses, her daily reads, her visits from friends and famous figures alike, her drafts on various works, and more. The surviving Inchbald pocketbooks are now held at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The present pocketbook is one of the same editions that Inchbald owned, designed to keep accounts as well as to note down memoranda. A 1790s owner has filled in many entries through November, 1798. Like Inchbald, she has recorded expenses ("Eggs - Butter") and social call ("My Mother visited me"). A lovely window into the quotidian life of a Georgian woman. 4.5'' x 3.25''. Modern quarter straight-grained tan morocco, marbled paper boards, black morocco spine label. Illustrated with two engraved fashion plates: "Ladies in the Dresses of the Year 1797" and folding plate "Head Dresses of the Year 1797." Unpaginated. Contemporary ink marginalia throughout, covering a large number of entries and keeping accounts. Some dampstain and foxing to engravings. First and last few leaves heavily soiled. Top edge closely trimmed. Firm.