Notes on Nursing: What It Is, and What It Is Not

Boston: William Carter, 1860. Second American edition. 12mo (19.5cm). In original printed paper wraps, with wood-engraving duplicating the illustration of the medal given to Nightingale by Queen Victoria; [i]-iv, i-xii, 1-16 9-20 17-104pp; rear wrapper with promotional material for the book; frontispiece portrait, wood-engraving on p.4, depicting the medal. One gathering (pp16-20) present in duplicate, inserted between pp16-17. Ex-library, with the rubber stamp of the Winchester [MA] Historical Society to verso of title-page and lower margins of pp.25 and 75. Ink inscription of previous owner Sarah J. Parker to front wrapper.
A sound copy, wraps gently worn but largely intact, with small chips, cracks, and losses to spine, small discoloration to front and rear wrapper near spine, small stain to lower wrap, one bifolium (pp13-16) detached and neatly laid in, minor dirt to lower corners of pp.86-87 and 90-91, minor occasional pencil underlining, but still complete and Very Good.

Early copy in a scarce binding of one of Nightingale's most widely read books, a compendium of advice for home nurses (rather than professionals). With a chapter on the importance of ventilation, especially relevant in industrial-age cities and (newly relevant in the covid-19 pandemic). The first edition was published in 1859 in London (GARRISON-MORTON 1612); the first American edition in 1860 by Appleton (HOOLILHAN 2636.2); numerous American piracies followed (ODNB).