1874 On the Philosophy of the University of France Sarah A. Dorsey New Orleans

Rare original 1874 pamphlet On the Philosophy of the University of France by Sarah A. Dorsey, printed by George Ellis & Brother, New Orleans. First paper prepared for the Academy of Sciences of New Orleans, April 13th, 1874. Dorsey was a noted Southern author and benefactor to Jefferson Davis. Original printed wraps, approx. 9” tall, 19th-century paper with age toning and minor edge wear. Exceptionally scarce Reconstruction-era Louisiana imprint by an early female scholar.

This pamphlet is extremely scarce. A check of OCLC/WorldCat shows only a few institutional holdings (e.g., Tulane, LSU, and the Library of Congress). None appear in the past decade of recorded auction or dealer listings.

About the Author

Sarah Anne Ellis Dorsey was a Southern intellectual, novelist, and philanthropist. She is best known today for:

• Writing several essays and books on philosophy and Southern society.

• Being a friend and benefactor to Jefferson Davis, giving him refuge at her plantation (“Beauvoir”) and later leaving it to him in her will — making her a notable figure in post–Civil War Southern history.

This paper represents Dorsey’s rare academic work, distinct from her fiction, and reflects her effort to engage with European philosophical systems — something quite uncommon for a woman scholar in Reconstruction-era New Orleans.