The Jewish Faith, by Grace Aguilar. London: Richard Groombridge, 1846. English. The book entitled "The Jewish Faith; Its Spiritual Consolation, Moral Guidance, and Immortal Hope" – an epistolary work, consisting of a series of letters written by an elderly Jewish woman, Inez Villena, to her young friend, Annie Montague, entreating her not to abandon her Judaism – was published shortly before the passing of the young English author, Grace Aguilar (1816-1847). This copy of the book was the property of the Etting family of Baltimore, Maryland – among the earliest Jewish immigrant families in the New World (arriving before the United States of America gained its independence) – for three generations; Solomon Etting gave this copy as a gift to his daughter Richa, and Richa in turn bequeathed it to her niece. Solomon Etting (1764-1847) was a merchant, politician, and activist on behalf of the American Jewish community. At the age of 18, he became the first native-born American Jewish ritual slaughterer in the history of the United States. For many years, he campaigned for the enactment of a bill that would enable the Jews of Maryland to hold public office. Known as the "Jew Bill, " it finally became law in 1826. With its passing, Etting became a member of Baltimore's city council. Solomon Etting's first wife was the daughter of Joseph Simon, and his second wife was the daughter of Barnard Gratz. Solomon's son, Samuel, took part in the historic battle of Fort McHenry (1814). Two handwritten dedicatory inscriptions – documenting the transfer of the book from one owner to the next – appear on the front endpaper. At the top of the page – presentation inscription handwritten by Solomon Etting's, to his daughter, Richa: "To my dear Richa, from her Affectionate father" (dated June 15, 1847). This is followed by another presentation inscription (undated and faintly handwritten) from Richa to her niece: "To Georgie Cohen from her Loving Aunt Richa." In all likelihood, the "Georgie" mentioned here is Georgiana Cohen, daughter of Richa's sister. The book is leatherbound. Front and back boards with a decorative gilt border. Front board gilt-stamped with the name "Richa G. Etting." Ownership autograph on title page: "Richa Gratz Etting. xvi, 448 pp., 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Minor blemishes and few stains (mostly to first leaves and to edges). Embossed stamp to title page and on following leaf. Spine missing. Blemishes and wear to binding. Front board detached; back board partly detached.