Etiquette for Gentlemen Book C1854 E1496 | Art of Conversation | Victorian Manners Fashion Dancing Eating | The Gilded Age shops

Victorian Etiquette for Gentlemen book.

Etiquette for Gentlemen with Hints on the Art of Coversation. This book is very scarce, a FIRST EDITION, pre-Civil War, published in 1854. We have also included a Victorian French Trade Card with a champagne glass surrounded by cupids, as well as a 4 leaf clover for good luck! Many of our Victorian books are now shown on The Gilded Age, HBO TV series! If you need it, Etsy's Klarna payment service is available at checkout, where you can get immediate ship, with 4 interest-free payments.

The Contents include:

Dress.

Salutations.

Visiting.

Letter Writing.

Letters of Introduction.

The Drawing Room:

Presents.

Hints on Conversation.

General Hints.

Oh my, society was so strictly governed by social rules, and woe be it to someone who strayed from acceptable and necessary etiquette! Books like this one might be the only source for a young man to learn the necessary steps for the oh so important etiquette needed to climb the social ladder. Especially so, if one lived in outlying areas. Comparing this shops to today's norms is just a hoot indeed!

Some examples of the text are below:

On Dress: Your dress should always be consistent with your age and your natural exterior..If you have weak eyes, you should wear spectacles. If the defect be great; your glasses should be coloured. In the dining room, and the drawing room, dress coats must be adopted, and of late boots are permitted; but shoes and silk stockings are n better taste. Abroad, in public assemblies, in the church on the theatre, as well as in walking the street, you should always wear gloves. The greates care should be taken that they fit well, and that they are scrupulously unsullied. The distinctive marks of a gentleman--the grand points as they are called--have been said to consists in well made shoes, clean gloves, and a white pocket handkerchief.

On Salutations: If an individual of the lowest rank, or without any rank at all, takes off his hat to you, you should do the same in return. In bowing to ladies, it is not enough that you touch your hat, you must take it entirely off.

On Visiting: In paying a visit under ordinary circumstances, you leave a single card. If there be residing in the family, a married daughter, an unmarried sister, a transient guest, or any person in a distinct situation from the mistress of the house, you leave two cards, one for each party.

The Drawing-Room: When you enter a drawing-room, where there is a ball or a party, you ought to pay your respects to the lady of the house before speaking to any one else. If you have accepted an invitation to a party, never fail to keep your promise.

The Dinner Table: In order to dine, the first requisite is to be invited. If you are too late, the evit is still greater, and indeed almost without a remedy. Your delay spoils the dinner and destroys the appetite and temper of the guests; and you yourself are so much embarrassed at the inconvenience you have occasioned, that you commit a thousand error at the table. At dinner, avoid taking upon your plate too many things at once. Never at any time, whether at a formal or a familiar dinner party, commit the impropriety of talking to a servant.

The Ball Room: A lady intending to give a dance will often give a verbal invitation--such an invitation must on no account be declined.

Presents: Present are the gage of friedndship. Among friends, presents ought to be made of things of small value. If one is offered to you, you always accept it, and however small it may be, received it with civil and expressed thanks.

Hints on Conversation: The most important requisite for success is constant and unfaltering attention. You should never, in an evening, speak to a man about his profession. Never speak to any one in company about a private affair which is not understood by others. A witty man is an agreeable acquaintance, but a tiresome friend. Besides irritating vanity, a constant flow of wit is excessively fatiguing to the listeners. It is a common practice with men to abstain from grave conversation with women. If the woman is young, gay and trifling, talk to her only of the latest fashion, the gossip of the day, etc. Do not allow your love for one woman to prevent your paying attention to others. In paying a morning visit, carry your hat with you into the parlour; at an evening visit or a dinner party, leave it in the hall.

This book was the perfect pocket size for a gentleman to carry everywhere. It is a hardbound reddish brown book with gilt imprinting on the cover, and blindstamped on both sides. The cover boards are in VG condition with a minimal amount of corner and spine wear, the hinges pages uncracked, in quite remarkable condition for its Pre-Civil War age. Previous owner's pencil note on the front blank page. This book looks as if it was seldom opened, and has the usual light foxing, not detracting, but mentioned for accuracy. That it even exists is amazing! The text block is clean, 63 pages. This great book is a delight to read and oh so entertaining for the coffee table. Measures aprox 3.5 x 5 inches, and is a FIRST EDITION.

Do use the zoom feature to see details better. If you would like this sent USPS Priority Mail, convo us, and we can change the postage. We estimate postage as best as we can; however, Etsy's postage calculator can often be a little off, so keep in mind that postage overages are always cheerfully refunded after checkout. Combined shipping.
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