The Lady's Friend. A Monthly Magazine of Literature and Fashion. Vol. VII. No. 4. April, 1870 [plus four other similar magazines from the same period, unduplicated]

Philadelphia [etc.]: Deacon & Peterson [etc.], 1876. Magazine. Five different "household" periodicals, all in dreadful shape, dusty, edgeworn, all close to being self-disbound. We see no evidence of excisions, or of missing plates; the Peterson name attaches to one such, but it is not a "Peterson's Magazine", the famous competitor to Godey's Ladies Mag, both of which offered incredibly beautiful fullpage plates, often hand-colored. Nothing near so good here. Here we will briefly describe The Lady's Friend as it is one of two in least dire condition and does provide several impressive b&w fashion engravings; it is sewn, 10x6.5 inches, remnant of a titled spine panel present, original thread present but broken, badly edgeworn, ornate typography to contents and especially to the profuse advertisements, features sentimental fiction suitable for broads and tykes. In other words, the usual late-19thC victoriana. [+] "Our Young Folks An Illustrated Magazine for Boys and Girls," Number 33 September 1867 (has a couple of good Arctic exploration plates), [+] "Wood's Household Magazine" for July 1870. [+] "The Little Corporal, An Original Magazine for Boys and Girls and for Older People Who Have Young Hearts" Vol. XII No.6, June 1871 [+] "Arthur's Illustrated Home Magazine", May 1876 No. 5, Vol. XLIV. The five serials together as a lot: all the same size as the first described (or slightly smaller), all in very rough condition, all will disappoint collectors and intrigue readers with a stomach for this period of Americana.