Some Account Of Mary Thomas Of Tanyralt In Merionethshire, Who Has Existed Many Years Without Taking Food: And Of Ann Moore, Commonly Called The Fasting Woman Of Tutbury. Accompanied With Portraits and Illustrative Etchings. By James Ward, Esq. R.A.

RA Collection: Book

Record number

04/3205

Imprint

London:: Printed For The Author, No. 6, Newman Street, Oxford Street. Sold By R. Ackermann, Strand. And Messrs. Colnaghi And Co. Cockspur Street., 1813.

Physical Description

[4], 11, [1] p., 7 pl.; 453 mm.

General Note

A leaf is tipped in at the end of the text, carrying a printed note, 'Since the preceding account was printed, Ann Moore has submitted to a second examination; the result of which has proved her an impostor ... On the 21st of April, 1813, the watch commenced ...' This note also states that Mary Thomas died 'some time in the last year'.

Contents

[T.p., dedic.] - [Text]; [colophon] - [Plates].

Responsibility Note

All plates are signed by J. Ward (and dated in the plate, 1810, 1811 or 1812). Each carries the imprint of the publisher Jas. Ward and the date of publication (June 1 1813).

The printer is named on the title-page verso and in the colophon: 'Printed by W. Davy, James Street, Grosvenor Square.'

The work is dedicated by the Author to Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society.

References

W. Vandereycken and R. van Deth, From fasting saints to anorexic girls: the history of self-starvation (1990).

O. Beckett, The life and work of James Ward (1995); J. Munro, James Ward, R.A., 1769-1859 (1991).

Summary Note

The plates are captioned and show: 1. Mary Thomas; 2. Mary Thomas; 3. Robert Edwards; 4. Mary Thomas's Dwelling place; 5. Ellis Thomas; 6. Ann Moor; 7. Ann Moor.

Provenance

Acquired between 1813 and 1821. Recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1821.

Binding Note

20th-century red cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Ward's Account Of Mary Thomas & Ann Moore.', 'R.A.' and '1813'.

Name as Subject

Subject

Fasting - Women - Rural areas - Great Britain - Merionethshire - Staffordshire - History - 19th century
Pictorial works - 19th century

Contributors

James Ward RA, draughtsman, engraver, publisher
Rudolph Ackermann, bookseller
William Davy, printer
Colnaghi and Company, bookseller