First Lessons in French (Eclectic Educational Series)

Copyright 1878 Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co; this likely printed closer to 1890. Copiously illustrated. A Near Fine copy with crisp, fresh binding. Contents have occasional fingersoil; previous owner's signature and ink annotation to the prelims, contents unmarked. This copy is also an excellently preserved example of this particular binding style, which was popular among Cincinnati publishers (several of which merged into the American Book Company around 1890). 

An uncommon and nicely illustrated language primer by French-born American journalist Emma Bullet (1842-1914). Bullet taught French at the Ohio Female College as a young woman but was better known as the long-serving Paris correspondent for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. She was highly regarded as both progressive and refined, often hosting salons in her Paris apartment. The Eagle published her autobiography in serial format and her obituary in the Brooklyn Times credited her with combining "an understanding of America and the Americans with a sureness and keenness of perception which made her letters from the French capital authoritative, comprehensive and interesting."