Wollstonecraft (Mary).- Malkin (Benjamin Heath) Essays on Subjects connected with Civilization, first edition, half-title, contemporary ink signature "Mary Hume 1800" to title, first few leaves of text misbound with contemporary note indicating such, contemporary motled sheep, rubbed, rebacked with gilt spine preserving old red morocco label, E.Hodson for C.Dilly, 1795 § Wollstonecraft (Mary) Bref, skrifna under et kort wistande i Swerige, Norrige och Danmark, first edition in Swedish, cancel title mounted on stub, contemporary half calf, rubbed, Stockholm, Holmberg, 1798, 8vo (2)

⁂ Although there are interesting chapters in the first mentioned on education, government, religious establishments, manners and amusements, and on the arts, the author's most interesting chapter is that 'On the Female Character' (pp.257-285). It is one of the earliest critiques of Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published just three years earlier. Malkin supports some of Wollstonecraft's ideas but is unconvinced by others. Malkin (1769-1842), was a scholar notable for his connection with William Blake and seems to have been close to radical circles in the 1790s, William Godwin reporting meeting Malkin at dinner at Horne Tooke's in 1796 and 1797.

The second item is a translation of Letters written during a short residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark first published in 1796. It is regarded by many as the first business travelogue by a woman published in English. Wollstonecraft travelled to Scandinavia with only her infant daughter and a maid, in an attempt to win back Gilbert Imlay, her lover and the father of her illegitimate child, by reporting back on a Norwegian business partner who had swindled him. Mary was away on her Scandinavian adventure from April to October 1795 and she and Imlay separated permanently soon after her return to London. The Letters was her last book, she died in 1797 having given birth to her daughter Mary Shelley.