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[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.]. The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table....
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Sold on Dec 15, 2025 for:
$937.50
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Description
[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.]. The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table. Boston: Phillips, Sampson and Company, 1859.12mo. Half-title, title page printed in red and black, inserted plates. BAL's binding A (B?) of pebbled rust-colored cloth stamped in blind, spine gilt, all edges gilt; quarter morocco slipcase.
LARGE PAPER ISSUE, BAL's state A with illustrations retained. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR on an early flyleaf: "James H. Wilder / from his friend and classmate / O W Holmes." BAL suggests that the copies of the book with illustrations preceded those without illustrations. Though Currier suggested the opposite, Tilton concurs with BAL, writing: "When he [Holmes] came to present copies of his book to his classmates, he was obliged to give them illustrated copies... The inference is that the large-paper issue appeared first with illustrations and that the rare copies without illustrations were specially and reluctantly prepared for Holmes."
James Humphrey Wilder and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. were members of the Harvard University Class of 1829. The present copy is undoubtedly one of the large-paper copies of this title Holmes inscribed to a number of his fellow Harvard graduates of the Class of 1829.
Condition: Light edgewear and a few minor scuffs. Small stains to endpapers, one just touching the inscription; glue stains to flyleaves at front. A few pale spots throughout.
References: BAL 9093; Currier-Tilton, pp. 69-74; Grolier American 69.
Provenance: Maurice Rosenfeld (bookplate).
Auction Info
2025 December 15 Rare Books Signature® Auction #6323 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2025
15th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 152
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