[WOOD, Sarah Sayward Barrell Keating (1759-1855)]. Julia, and the Illuminated Baron. By a Lady of Massachusetts. Portsmouth, NH: Printed at the Oracle Press by Charles Peirce, June 1800.

First edition of the first novel by the first American female writer of Gothic fiction as well as Maine's first novelist. "Madam Wood," as she was known, wrote under the pen name "A Lady of Massachusetts" until Maine became a state in 1820, at which point she became "A Lady of Maine." She lived in relative luxury and only turned to writing when she was widowed, after the deaths of her first husband Richard Keating, and her second, General Abiel Wood. The title character in Julia "is confronted with disappearing parents, a stolen inheritance, reputed illegitimacy, incestuous propositions, false arrest, smallpox, and kidnapping, before being saved by her true love" (Emerging Voices, p. 18). The action takes place in France, with trips to Spain and America. In the course of her career Wood authored of three novels and several short stories. Rare: RBH only records a copy of the second edition. Emerging Voices 17; Evans 39134; Sabin 105059; Wright 2757.

12mo (172 x 92mm). (Small repair to margin of copyright leaf, a couple tiny losses at corners.) Contemporary calf, red spine label (rebacked, with portions of original spine laid down). Provenance: Mary Ann Hooker (ownership inscription to title page; fly leaf inscribed "Mary Ann Hooker's Presented by her cousin Mary Vaughan, April 2nd 1810").