The City of the Magyar or Hungary and Her Institutions in 1839-40.

London: George Virtue,, 1840. First edition of prolific Pardoe's account of Hungary, "replete with interest, amusement, and information" (Theakstone). The English poet and novelist Julia Sophia H. Pardoe (1804-1862) went abroad for the first time in the early 1830s, with the first of her popular travel books written in 1833 (Traits and Traditions in Portugal). In 1835, Pardoe accompanied her father to Constantinople, after which she published two successful books, City of the Sultan (1837) and The Beauties of the Bosphorus (1838). In 1839, she was on the move again, visiting Hungary, initially staying at Presburg and then Kosztolan, Previtz, Kremnitz, Schmenitz, and Pesth. The City of the Magyar or Hungary was lauded for "its comprehensive research into Hungarian economic and political life; less florid in style than its predecessors, it also induced Elizabeth Barrett to praise Pardoe's 'word-painting'" (ODNB). Provenance: ink signature of Agnes Hope Morris on each front free endpaper. Morris (1852-1928) was secretary-treasurer of Ohio's Oxford College for Women, later Oxford Female Institute. Her father, Reverend Robert Desha Morris, was president of the institute from 1859 until 1882. Three volumes, octavo. Original blue cloth, spines lettered in gilt, boards elaborately blind-stamped, light yellow endpapers, top edge uncut. Engraved frontispiece in each volume (only one with tissue-guard), 4 plates, folding manuscript fascimile. Marginal pencillings. Spines slightly rolled and sunned, a few marks to cloth, vol. I with minor superficial splits of cloth at joints and front inner hinge neatly repaired, other inner hinges starting but firm. A very good copy. Robinson p. 189; Theakstone pp. 318-9.