Item #013960 The Independent. May, 1873. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.

The Independent. May, 1873.

New York: Henry C. Bowen, Publisher, 1873. Tabloid. Good. Item #013960

Side folding newspaper tabloid format. Pagination runs 609-640. Illustrated ads in the last third of the paper. A single issue of this long running weekly magazine, initially founded to promote Congregationalism, but noted for its prominence in supporting abolition/anti-slavery causes as well as women's suffrage. This issue of note for the inclusion of an article by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps "Woman's Dress. The Morals of It." In it Phelps states that "woman was made for man," and that part of her duties was to be sexually attractive. This seemingly contradicts her feminist stances on equal rights for women, the rights of women as financially independent workers, and equal rights in marriage. Phelps was also a prominent figure in the clothing reform movement, urging women to burn their corsets. In this article Phelps addresses the morality of dressing in suggestive or sexually alluring manners, and also questions why men are not expected to reveal skin while women are expected to do so even in winter, referring to obvious double standards in dress. Also present in this issue is an article on Native American treaties with the United States, questioning whether it was constitutional for the US to not recognize Native American tribes as self-governing independent nations. The author sees this as a way for the US to circumvent existing treaties in order to gain more land. GOOD condition. Crooked horizontal fold crease present, with tearing along the fold. General toning, with minor foxing and soiling throughout. Heavy wrinkling, some chipping and tearing along the extremities.

Price: $35.00