[Mordecai M. Noah.] Essays of Howard, on Domestic Economy.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

G.L. Birch & Co.

New York

1820

Not in Singerman; BAL 14997; Shaw and Shoemaker 2557.

Mordecai Manuel Noah (1785-1851) was the most prominent Jew in the America of his time, the first Jew born in the United States to reach national prominence. This volume is a collection of Noah’s essays from the New York National Advocate - Noah’s daily newspaper which ran from 1824-26. Many of the essays examine the causes for insolvency and personal poverty, often blaming a lack of moral ethics, resulting in reckless spending or an obsession with fashion. Noah includes vignettes of Manhattan scenes ranging from rowdy teens at a late-night oyster house (p. 30) to Wall Street wives recklessly bidding at an auction of silver (p. 53).