"THE TRUE HEROINE OF THE AGE, THE ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD": FIRST EDITION OF WOMAN'S WORK IN THE CIVIL WAR, 1867, IN DELUXE PUBLISHER'S FULL MOROCCO-GILT

(CIVIL WAR) BROCKETT, L.P. and VAUGHAN, Mary C. Woman's Work in the Civil War: A Record of Heroism, Patriotism and Patience. Philadelphia: Zeigler, McCurdy, 1867. Thick octavo, original deluxe full paneled pictorial brown morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and covers, raised bands, all edges gilt.

First edition of this major early history of Civil War women, published only two years after the war's end, with authoritative accounts of groundbreaking work by Clara Barton and over 80 field nurses, surgical assistants and volunteers, featuring 16 steel-engraved portraits and a contributing essay by Harriet Beecher Stowe, in deluxe publisher's full morocco-gilt.

This important contemporary Civil War history documents the major contributions of women such as Clara Barton in a war that cost the lives of over 600,000 Americans. Following a notable section on Dorothea Dix, Woman's Work notes Barton's bold insistence on loading "an army wagon with supplies… to follow the march of General McClellan" (119)—"the true heroine of the age, the angel of the battlefield." Also prominent is a history of Mary Allen Bickerdyke, who "began a quiet medical revolution… improvising field hospitals wherever needed" (ANB). "She was, in particular, a great favorite with both Grant and Sherman" (176), serving with Grant at the Battle of Shiloh and joining Sherman on his march to Atlanta. In noting their mutual respect, "Sherman and Grant were both credited with the comment that 'she ranks with me" (ANB). Other sections record the pioneering work of Emily Parsons, an early voice for women's rights, and of Mary Jane Safford—described as "fearlessly penetrating far into the enemies' lines, with her handkerchief tied upon a little stick, waving above her head as a flag of truce" (358). In addition to the histories of over 80 women, Woman's Work also contains Harriet Beecher Stowe's record of Harriet Hawley (416-19). With both engraved and letterpress title pages; ornamental initials throughout. Without advertisement leaf. Nevins II:122. See Dornbusch III:408-12.

Interior generally fresh with light scattered foxing, faint occasional marginal dampstaining; morocco binding with only modest wear, gilt bright. Highly desirable in original publisher's morocco.