London: M. J. Godwin at the Juvenile Library no. 41 Skinner-Street, 1809. [iv], 179, [1 advert’] pages. Engraved frontispiece by J. Hopwood after W. Hopwood. Bound in full red morocco gilt by Riviere. All edges gilt. 12mo. First edition of this highly successful and important work. This was one of the very few works substantially written by Mary Lamb. Of the stories, she wrote seven and her brother Charles three. Slight wear to the head of spine, bookplate; else near fine. The book tells of a new intake of girls at Mrs. Leicester’s school. On their first evening it is suggested they spend their time relating the histories of their lives, particularly their experiences of family life, so that they ‘will not look unsociably upon each other.’ In part this draws upon Mary Lamb’s own troubled childhood and her issues with her own mental health.