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[Ralph Waldo Emerson]. The Western Messenger; devoted to Religion and Literature. Vol. VI.-No. IV. February, 1839. [and]...
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Description
[Ralph Waldo Emerson]. The Western Messenger; devoted to Religion and Literature. Vol. VI.-No. IV. February, 1839. [and] The Western Messenger... Vol. VI.-No. VI. April, 1839. Louisville, Ohio: Morton & Griswold, 1839.2 issues, 8vo. Original printed green and blue wrappers, respectively; housed together in a quarter morocco slipcase.
VERY RARE JOURNAL CONTAINING FIRST APPEARANCES of several of Emerson's early poems: "Each and All" and "To the Humble-Bee" (February); and "Good-bye, Proud World!" (April). The Western Messenger, a monthly Cincinnati and Louisville literary and religious publication edited by W. H. Channing and J. F. Clarke, is credited with spreading transcendentalism from New England to "the West." It contains some of the earliest poetical writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and contributions by other poets. In a prefatory note before the earliest of his poems to appear, "Each in All," the editor writes: "Those of our readers who enjoy fine poetry, will thank the author of the following verses, for communicating them, as well as those on "The Humble Bee," to the reading public... These are almost the first poetical specimens of his writing which have appeared in print."
Each wrapper in the present lot bears the name of early owner "Jos. Peabody," and may have belonged to Joseph Peabody (1757-1844), who was a merchant and shipowner who dominated trade between Massachusetts and the East Asia for a number of years. Peabody was the wealthiest merchant-shipowner of Salem, Massachusetts between the embargo of 1807 and 1845.
VERY SCARCE: According to online auction and dealer records the last appearance of any single issue of The Western Messenger containing these early Emerson poems was a copy of the February issue (Vol VI, No. 4) in wrappers which appeared in a Goodspeed catalogue in 1966; prior to that a single issue of the same issue appeared at American Art Association in 1922.
Condition: Very minor wear to spines, with a few minor chips to unprinted area on February issue; very slight toning at edges of April issue; otherwise fine and remarkably well preserved.
References: Myerson E12, E13 and E14.
Provenance: Joseph Peabody (signature on each cover). From the William A. Strutz Library.
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Auction Info
2024 December 11 Important English and American Literature: The William A. Strutz Library, Part II, Rare Books Signature® Auction #6300 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2024
11th
Wednesday
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