Lydia Phillips, Mathew Carey, Philadelphia imprint

[John Windle <JohnWindle@AOL.COM>]

Dear Ex-Librans,

I have a copy of "Telliamed" (Baltimore 1797) in the original calf, with a
printed label pasted in at the front endpaper reading "Philadelphia, Nov. 28,
1821. THIS BOOK HAS BEEN SOLD TO MR. M. CAREY, By [blank space filled in by hand
in ink] Lydia Phillips" Underneath in pencil someone (a bookseller?) has
noted "See Jenkins Whole World" followed by the references Sabin 43892, Evans
32414 and another note "lst Amer. ed." Does any reader know of other examples of
this label and was Lydia Phillips a Philadelphia bookseller? I queried the Free
Library of Philadelphia which has no record of her or (as far as they can
tell) of such a label. It seems likely the label was printed by Carey (presumably
though not certainly the printer and publisher) and that Phillips was, or
worked for, a bookseller -- which would make her (I believe) one of the earliest
named American women in the book trade outside of publishing. If anyone has a
source of information on Lydia Phillips or on the disposition of Mathew
Carey's library I would be most grateful for a pointer.

Many thanks and best wishes as ever,

John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller,
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