The Polite Academy. Or, Complete Instructions for a Genteel Behaviour and Polite Address in Masters and Misses : Serving as a Foundation for the Manners and Behaviour of an Accomplish'd Gentleman or Lady in any Stage of Life by Anon - 1759

London: Printed for R. Baldwin, at the Rose, in Paternoster-Row; and B. Collins, in Salisbury, MDCCLIX (1759.) 2nd printing or edition, with textual changes and a "Letter from Robin Redbreast" not in the 1758 1st edition (R. Baldwin only imprint.) This 1759 edition not recorded by WorldCat or ESTC. xii, 76 pages, 12 leaves of copper plates. 24mo, approx. 5 x 3.25 inches. Fair in early patterned boards. Lacking four leaves of text but with all 12 plates present. A rare title in any condition, and surviving copies are often incomplete and missing some or all plates. The text offers a thorough guide to Georgian-era etiquette for children and teens. With detailed instructions on decency, modesty and good manners in all situations and company. Includes guidance on body posture, facial expressions, gestures, standing, walking, dancing, bowing, taking leave, offering and receiving, and more. Illustrated with "a variety of genteel figures, neatly engrav'd, of young gentlemen and ladies." Lacking four leaves: pp. 35/36, 37/38. 49/50 and 59/60. Covers faded, worn and detached; spine strip perished. Text block separated with detached pages and page signatures. Creasing, edge tears and small areas of text loss to a handful of pages. Two of the plates have short, clean tears (approx. 1.5") at the edges. Lacking ffep. Old reddish residue on the pastedowns, evidently from a cover of some kind once attached by sealing wax. Despite the faults, an important work and one of the rarest 18th century books for young readers. By way of comparison the 1758 printing, with the bookplate of Justin G. Schiller and now held by the University of North Carolina, has a pencil notation that it is the only known copy of the 1st edition. It lacks three leaves and two plates. This 1759 printing appears to be unrecorded in any institutional collection and may be previously unknown.