The First Etiquette Encyclopedia

For the most part, Emily Post’s book, “Etiquette” is Emily Holt’s “Encyclopedia of Etiquette” reworked and slightly updated...

According to a “New Yorker” article, “Emily Holt’s popular ‘Encyclopaedia of Etiquette,’ first published in 1901, was more than five hundred pages. By contrast, Emily Post said that she wanted to write a small book, a ‘sensible book,’ because ‘the whole subject can be reduced to a few simple rules.’ Post worked on ‘Etiquette’ for nearly two years... Somewhere along the way, Post either changed her mind or simply lost sight of her original goal. By the time she was finished, ‘Etiquette’ ran to two hundred and fifty thousand words, took up more than six hundred pages, and was even larger than Holt’s ‘Encyclopaedia.’For the most part, Post’s book is Holt’s ‘Encyclopedia’ reworked and slightly updated.” ~2008, The New Yorker

Encyclopaedia of Etiquette

The general impression of so-called books of manners is that to have a copy in one's possession means that he or she is deficient in the qualities that go to guests: rules for dancing a german and leading cotillions: proper form in connection with weddings, theatre parties, visiting and house parties, receptions, musicales, garden parties, funerals and christenings.

The latter part of the book is devoted to some words to bachelors on the lines society dictates their hospitalities shall be conducted: the proper dress and etiquette to be followed in writing, driving, golfing, and bicycling: a few rules on correspondence: and last, hints for the dress and duties of servants and the social position of children.

The volume is supplemented by an alphabetical index for convenient reference and has nine half-tone reproductions of photograph especially taken to explain the text in relation to dinners, weddings and liveries. (Published by McClure, Philadelphia & Co., New York. Price $2.) 

Originally published in the San Francisco call March 17, 1901 under "Writers of Books"

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia