Sibyl, The.
Dress reform] Hasbrouck, Lydia Sayer, ed. The Sibyl. A Review of the Tastes, Errors, and Fashions of
Society. Middleton, NY: July 1858 to June 1860. Volumes III and IV, comprising a total of 48 8-page
issues.
48 vols.; 4to.; bound in later 1/2 calf and marble boards.
Hasbrouck (1827-1910) wore bloomers before they were popularly named after Amelia Bloomer. Indeed
there is an image of the editor in her bloomers on the masthead of each issue.
The Sibyl was the official journal of the National Dress Reform Association and reported its conventions
in detail. The name plate contained a small picture of the editor wearing the new costume, which looks
neat and sensible, thought decidedly copious in comparison with modern styles... The Sibyl advocated
other reforms also; it was anti-tobacco and pro-temperance, but it was not much interested in freeing
Negroes as long as women were enslaved. In the early numbers appeared a serial story detailing the trials
of a female reformer; its was, doubtless, largely an autobiography of the editor. [Mott, A History of
American Magazines, 18650-1865, Vol.II, pp. 52-53.]
“The Sibyl ... is quite as interesting as the Lily. It was founded at Middletown, NY in July 1856
by Drs. Lydia Sayer with John W Hasbrouck as publisher. Note the Drs. before Miss Sayer’s
name; it stands for "Doctoress." Eventually the "s" was dropped in token of the claim that women
had as much right as men to the title Dr.
Rare, we have never seen this before.
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