RULES OF ETIQUETTE ARE DERIVED FROM LONG EXPERIENCE; THEIR BASIS IS ALWAYS CONSIDERATION  FOR THE FEELINGS, BELIEFS AND SENSIBILITIES OF OTHERS. EMILY POST 

{HISTORY}

First published in 1922, Emily Post (1872-1960) soared to iconic status in the 20th century as the go-to authoritarian on all issues pertaining to manners, etiquette and gracious living. A writer throughout her life, Emily's publishing career bloomed with unparalleled success when she turned 50 years old and completed her most famous book Etiquette: In Society, In Business, In Politics and at Home. Some would say it took her a lifetime to prepare for this feat. Growing up amongst the wealthy and privileged societies of New York City's affluent elite, Emily was not just another typical debutante of her day. After marrying a banker and giving birth to two sons, her adult life began in a traditional way. But after discovering her husband was having affairs with numerous chorus girls, she divorced him in 1905 and took up a writing career.

Interested in architecture, design, travel, and fiction writing, Emily published articles, books, and adventure stories throughout her middle years. When Etiquette was first published in 1922, it was viewed as an extremely helpful book. Not unlike the necessity of The Constitution of the United States, it appeared at a time when people from all over the world were flooding the country on a daily basis and were in need of some direction on how to handle themselves in this new and different environment. People needed to get along in order to make the country and themselves successful. Emily Post's Etiquette set the standard on how and why people should be treated by devising a mainstream code of conduct that was appropriate for everyone, no matter your income level, gender or social status.

The rest is history. Emily went on to become a household name, hosted her own radio show, and wrote a popular newspaper column that was syndicated in over 100 papers across the country.  Etiquette went on to thrive as well - evolving with the times in the form of periodic revisions and updates. At its height of popularity, the publishers were printing 5600 copies a week in order to keep up with demand. This is the hard-to-find 9th printing of the 1937 edition published in January 1940. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1940 edition, 7th Printing of 1937 Edition

- Includes original hard-to-find dust jacket

- Published by Funk & Wagnalls

- Contains 50  chapters and 877 pages 

- Contains a fascinating look at life from a late 1930s perspective including the service of domestic staff, the Roaring 20s quest for joie de vivre and its affects on the generation coming of age in the 1930s,  professionalism in the workplace, appropriate dating practices of men and women, hosting responsibilities, table manners, at home hospitality, clothing for men and women, homekeeping practices, and family relationships 

- Includes letters from readers in many chapters seeking advice for real-life etiquette issues ( a special feature that was not included in later editions) 

- Includes black and white photographs throughout

- An original bookseller sticker from G. Fox & Co Hartford CT is affixed to the interior of the back coverboard. G. Fox & Co was a large Connecticut department store in operation between 1847-1993, although the G. Fox brand name was no longer used after 1965

{CONDITION}

In good vintage condition. All pages are clean and bright. The coverboards are in beautiful shape. The thick paper dust jacket (a rare find!) is completely intact but does contain some rubbing along the folded edges, sun fading on the spine and some light spotting on the front, back, and spine. The paper on the back coverboard is pulling away slightly at the seam. This does not affect the integrity of the book. All the pages are still tightly bound. There is a watermark that has affected the bottom edge of the book - making light water stains on some of the black and white photograph plates and causing the interior pages to wrinkle slightly along the bottom portion of a section of pages near the front of the book.  Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 6.25" inches (width) x 9.5" inches (length) x 2" inches (thickness) and weighs 3.3 lbs 

{FOR COLLECTORS}

Emily Post's Etiquette books are fun to collect by publishing year and edition because each volume has been thoughtfully modified for the time period in which it debuts. This type of revision tracks good manners as social commentary in regard to our changing lifestyles and viewpoints over the past 100 years.  For example, later editions contain expanded advice for teenagers and talk about pre-marital sexual issues. Earlier editions offer advice on how to work with outside help or domestic staff. Midcentury editions include much more information directed toward women in the workforce.