MEERTEN- SCHILPEROORT, A.B. VAN. Penélopé of maandwerk aan het vrouwelijk geslacht toegewijd. Bevattende: De beschrijving en afbeelding van allerhandse soorten van vrouwelijke handwerken; benevens eenige lektuur, over onderwerpen uit den vrouwelijken kring. Amsterdam, G.J.A. Beijerinck. 1821-1835. Uniform half calf, spines gilt relaying original backstrips. Eight volumes, (all published); eight engraved additional vignette title-pages by P. Velijn after G. Kruseman and 192 aquatint, stipple-engraved, etched or lithograph plates (181 hand coloured prints of which 87 are double-page.), mainly by D. Sluyter after C. Borsteegh, almost all with fine contemporary hand-colouring, some additionally partly printed in colour, numerous woodcut text illustrations. (vol VI. plate 24 detached and soiled in the margins, Vol. VII vignette title loose), a highly desirable item. XX, 192, 327; (6), 192, 344; 191, 342; 196, 336; 195, 344; 192, 336; 192, 328; 192, 332 pp. An attractive set, rarely found complete, of this scarce and finely illustrated Dutch periodical devoted to womens's handicrafs. The first half of each volume is concerned with the making of all manner of objects, from purses and tobacco-pouches to baskets, cushions, bell-pulls, vases and screens; in addition, crafts such as floral arrangement are also covered. Throughout, the work is hansomely illustrated with examples of the object to be made, with fine hand-coloured (or, in afew cases, colour printed) plates; both in the illustrations and the text, much attention is paid to the techniques and materials used.The second half of each volume is entitle 'Lectuur', and is devoted to reading matter suitable for women; in addition to reviews and recommendations, a number of short stories are also offered. Volumes IV and VIII contain general indexes to volumes I-IV and volumes V-VIII. While the initial plan was to publish twelve volumes, in the event only the present eight volumes were published.Complete copies, in as good a condition as this one, are now scarce. A very fine set and in this state and condition of great rarity. [Ordernr.: 24337 ]