Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine Vol. LXVI From January to June 1863

EB. Very Good. Hardcover. Leather. 8vo. Published by Louis A Godey, Philadelphia, PA. 1863. 588 pgs. Illustrated with hand-colored plates and black and white engravings. Bound in 3/4 brown leather and paper covered cloth boards with gilt titles present to the spine and previous owner's leather bookplate present to the front board. Front board detached from the binding. Missing the title page. Offset present to the endpapers. No ownership marks present. Foxing Present. Text is clean and free of marks. Binding tight and solid. Bound in 3/4 brown leather and paper covered cloth boards with gilt titles present to the spine and previous owner's leather bookplate present to the front board. Front board detached from the binding. Missing the title page. Offset present to the endpapers. No ownership marks present. Foxing Present. Text is clean and free of marks. Binding tight and solid. Extensively illustrated with gorgeous engravings regarding a myriad of lady's topics of the day, including family scenes, tons of fashions (dresses, cloaks, mantillas and hats, much more) , needlework, embroidery, beadwork, lacemaking, etc, even includes architecture and plans of beautiful homes and villas. Godey's magazine, begun by Louis A. Godey, was by far the most popular women's periodical of its day. Achieving a circulation of 150,000 before the war, it was anxiously awaited by its many fans, who read and re-read the sentimental stories and poems, studies and copied the fashions, and even cut out and framed the engravings. The key to its success was the section of fashion plates, which were hand-colored by more than 100 women employed by Godey. In 1837, Godey bought Mrs. Sarah Hale's Ladies' magazine and obtained Mrs. Hale as editor; this marked the beginning of the magazine's best literary period. In the years between 1837 and 1850 all the popular writers of the time appeared in its pages; contributors included Emerson, Longfellow, Holmes, Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Edgar Allan Poe; in addition to tales and poetry, contents included light essays, biography, sketches, humor, book reviews, recipes, and articles on music, art, fashions, health, and beauty. Sentiment was abundant, and politics were excluded, but much on the education of women appeared. EB; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .