Item #5796 An Island Garden. Celia Thaxter.
An Island Garden.
An Island Garden.
An Island Garden.
An Island Garden.
An Island Garden.
An Island Garden.
An Island Garden.

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An Island Garden.

Boston and New York: Hougton, Mifflin & Co., 1894. 8vo, original gilt green cloth. [x], 126 pp., chromolithographic frontis., 11 chromolithographic plates, numerous chromlithographic illuminations. Leaf with mounted autograph letter and poem inserted after title leaf.

First edition, with an autograph letter and an autograph poem by Thaxter inlaid and inserted. With splendid plates after paintings by Thaxter’s friend Childe Hassam. Written from Appledore Island, the letter is addressed to one “Mr. Underwood.” Thaxter writes in full: “Will you choose from these three small things? I wanted to send you ‘Contrast’ the first poem in Driftweed but it is seven verses seven too long. The poems in this last vol are not at all upon one string - there are many sentimental songs that have nothing whatever to do with the sea. Hoping one of these will answer your purpose[.] believe me very sincerely yours Celia Thaxter.” The letter is followed by her poem “Slumber Song” (which appeared in Driftweed) and is signed as well. The chromolithographic illuminations, which appear at the head of each chapter and elsewhere, are in imitation of Thaxter’s practice of illuminating books with watercolors. Described by the Bibliography of American Literature as "one of the most elaborate pieces of bookmaking of the period." The covers were designed by Sarah Wyman Whitman.

REFERENCES: BAL 19923; Bennett 104; Artists of the Book in Boston 1890-1910, #8.

CONDITION: Good, some loss to head and foot of spine, a few brown stains on spine, some wear and small losses to extremities, a few short tears and punctures to top edge of ffep, rear inner hinge cracked.

Item #5796

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