Skip to product information
1 of 7

The First Patient: A Story, Written in Aid of the Fair for the Channing Home, 1859

The First Patient: A Story, Written in Aid of the Fair for the Channing Home, 1859

Regular price $110.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $110.00 USD
Sale Sold out

John Wilson and Son, Boston
1859
First Edition

As a collector of Victorian mourning paraphernalia, I’ll pick up just about any 19th century book that addresses bereavement. That’s all I thought this was, but it turns out to be a very scarce piece of New England medical history & women’s contributions to the field. This story was privately published to aid a fundraiser for the Channing Home, a refuge for chronically ill women founded by Harriet Ryan Albee, who had previously been housing & caring for these women at her own expense. There hadn’t been an institution for chronically ill women before, and in Albee’s time, the home predominantly cared for women with tuberculosis, which ravaged 19th century America like wildfire. The author is not credited, but we know it was Catherine Tilden, which the owner of this book helpfully inscribed on the title page. 

The home had humble beginnings in the vestry of a church. Today, the institute is the Channing Laboratory, part of Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. 

Brown, textured cloth covers with a gilded title & spine. Condition is excellent with slightly bumped corners being the only noteworthy issue. 

Shipping Information

RETURN POLICY

 

All sales are FINAL. I strive to provide clear photos & accurate information for every item, & to anticipate any questions you may have. It is the buyer's responsibility to examine these photos clearly & read the description in full before purchasing. If you have any other questions or require further views, you've only to ask.

- No cancellations.

SHIPPING

- Orders ship once a week. If you need something by a certain date, please let me know before purchasing. I am almost always able to accommodate requests.

- Insurance is automatically added to every order for a very small fee, via the service Route. If you choose not to insure your order, I will not be held responsible for lost or stolen packages. 

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

- If you are outside the US & would like to purchase something, please message me to arrange payment either through Paypal invoice or through our Etsy outpostI am not currently taking international orders on this website due to a problem with Shopify's shipping calculator. 

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE

- I do not do "holds," reserves, or payment plans. However, if you need help with financing, many safe & easy options are available to you at checkout, including Shop Pay.

View full details