1829 Specimens of American Poetry w/ Critical and Biographical Notices

Description: Specimens of American Poetry w/ Critical and Biographical Notices. In Three Volumes. By Samuel Kettell, S.G. Goodrich and Co., Boston, 1829, 353 pp, 408 pp, 406 pp, 3/4 leather, 7 x 5”, thick 12mo. In fair condition. Moderate wear to boards with scuffing and rubbing to corners and extremities. Scuffed marbled boards with soiling and toning. Spine is extremely desiccated with feeling and loss down center. Spine is tender towards center as a result. T.L. Eastburn Bookbinder tag on front pastedown top left corner. Old hand ownership of Frank B. Clark Jr. of Mobile Alabama, Jan. 27th, 1876 on front pastedown. In the same hand there is an extensive critique on the second fly leaf “This book contains specimens from the pens of those poets who appear upon the literary horizon of America prior to 1820. Since then the name of our greatest poets have appeared, and the poetry of today, from its surpassing brilliancy, causes us to lose sign of many of the “genius” that appears prior to 1820…” Mobile June 1876. A.K.(?) Manning on margin of p. 64 of volume II. Toning throughout, as to be expected. Light finger soiling. Binding intact. Please see photos. Perhaps the first comprehensive anthology and survey of American literature. This collection includes very early printings of Longfellow, Whittier, and others—before their first books. This is also a line notice of Poe’s famous and rare fabled first book, Tamerlane. Though exceedingly brief, this is probably the first mention of Poe or his work in any book form. “This is a wonderful compilation. The man who owns it owns a whole collection of American verse.” - Bennett RAREA1829FMON

Price: 500 USD

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-11-24T17:39:55.000Z

Shipping Cost: 7.63 USD