wedding

Chrysanthemum Culture for America

In 19th century America, as the middle class grew, more people had time to garden for pleasure. That is when books on flower gardening became popular. Chrysanthemum Culture for America (1891) by James Morton was one of the earliest American publications on the history and care of chrysanthemums. At the time, the famous horticulturist Liberty Hyde Bailey considered it the best book “written by an American” on the flower.

Matrimonial Advice

“A little book of advice to be given to all those contemplating matrimony, married or engaged.” Embossed gold lettering adorns the linen cover of this charming and humorous book of advice for wedded bliss. The book is divided into two sections: “Advice to the Man” and “Advice to the Woman,” in which pages alternate between 17 polychromatic drawings on watercolor paper, colored by the author, and black and white pages with sketches and quatrains elaborating on the simple advice.

American Entomology

Thomas Say (1787-1834) was a self-taught naturalist who has come to be considered the Father of American Entomology.  In 1812 he became one of the founding/charter members of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia and actually lived at the Academy and tended its small museum for several years.  He also began publishing this book – part 1 came out in 1817 – but his participation in several scientific expeditions delayed its completion until later in the 1820s.  In this and other works he described and named over 1400 species of insects (especially beetles).

Matrimonial ladder: or Such things are

A wonderfully illustrated and "wise" little volume about the ups and downs of marriage. Both the text, which was written in verse, and the illustrations were etched on metal plates, printed, and then hand-colored. The content is summarized on the title page and it may well speak to those being tried by love: "So they ripe, and ripe! / And rot, and rot! / And hereby hangs a tail!! / 'Tis true, 'tis pity / And pity 'tis, 'tis true!!!".

Marriage : Its History and Ceremonies

A mid-nineteenth century illustrated book about the functions and qualifications for happy marriages. A very popular pseudo-science at the time this book was written, phrenology constitutes the foundation of the discussion. Phrenology drew connections between the shape of the human skull and personality traits. These methods are in varied ways used in this work which also focuses on psychological approaches to describing happy or unhappy marriages.