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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Kéramos. [Cambridge, Mass.: Privately printed, 1877]....
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Description
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Kéramos. [Cambridge, Mass.: Privately printed, 1877].12 pages, 8vo (230 x 150 mm), sewn as issued in self wrappers; full orange levant morocco pull-off case with onlays on spine panels.
THE EXCESSIVELY RARE PRIVATELY PRINTED ISSUE, ONE OF ONLY A FEW COPIES KNOWN. The first book edition was published the following year in Boston by Houghton, Osgood & Company.
"This is a small private issue, probably of six copies only" (Livingston). Probably the rarest of Longfellow items, with most Longfellow collectors unaware of the existence of this separate privately printed issue of Kéramos. This copy is accompanied by notes from previous owner Jacob C. Chamberlain, which reads: "A few copies (probably six) were privately printed, one sent to Harper Bros remaining five were in his secretary drawer on 18th Nov. 1902 when Mrs. Thorp [Annie Longfellow, his daughter] presented me with this copy..." According to Livingston, "Mr. Chamberlain acquired two copies of the pamphlet and three others remain in the possession of the Longfellow family" (Livingston, p. 97).
EXTREMELY RARE: According to online auction records, the present copy, the Chamberlain-Wallace-Spoor copy, is only one of two copies of this rarity to ever have appeared at auction, the other being the Wakeman copy in 1924.
There are some interesting allusions to this excessively rare pamphlet in Longfellow's Journal, such as: May 7, 1877, "Trying to write a poem on 'The Potter's Wheel," May 31, 1877, "Finished wheel," and Aug. 3, "The poem 'Keramos' has gone to the Harper's."
Accompanied by the extract from Harper's Magazine containing the poem (December 1877), showing many changes, and an additional verse. These changes have been noted by Mr. Chamberlain on the magazine copy.
Condition: Rear outside page slightly toned near fold margin, and with a few minor spots; some light even toning; first two leaves with soft crease in upper blank margin; two previous owners' bookplates tipped on inner margin of first page.
References: BAL 12189; Livingston, pp. 95-97.
Provenance: Jacob Chester Chamberlain (bookplate; his sale, Anderson Auction Company, 17 February 1909, lot 540); Walter Thomas Wallace (his sale, American Art Association, 24 March 1920, lot 870); John A. Spoor (his sale, 26-28 April 1939, lot 601); purchased from Seven Gables Bookshop, Inc., New York, 29 April 1976. 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
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 6
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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