Daily Mirror

17th century women’s guide up for sale

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A RARE self-help book which shows how women were expected to behave in the 17th century has come up for auction.

The Gentlewoma­ns Companion, published in 1673, advises on rejecting a man wanting “lewd and immodest actions”. Hannah Woolley’s “guide for the female sex” also gives pointers on sitting up straight, boiling pigeon and “windiness” remedies.

Wives are urged to be “subservien­t” and “hide your husband’s faults”.

Woolley declares: “Undoubtedl­y the husband hath power over the wife and the wife ought to be subject to the husband in all thing.” It was not done for a woman in the 1600s to say she was hungry, and certainly not “fix your eyes too greedily on the meat before you”.

A private collector is selling the book at auction on Thursday, with a guide price of £1,000 to £1,500. Max Hasler, at London-based Forum Auctions, said: “This is a rare first edition offering recipes and remedies as well as advice on education, governesse­s, servants and social conduct.

“We believe that only six copies exist in the UK and we have not found any record of one appearing at auction.”

 ??  ?? SCARCE The advice book
SCARCE The advice book

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