1863 Tales of a Wayside Inn

Description

Author's Presentation Copy, First Edition, Publishers' Original Binding, Signed, With Letter

The first edition of Longfellow's work, with a signed letter from the author himself.

The letter is dated November 1880, and is addressed to Ukrainian born composer and writer Hermine Küchenmeister-Rudersdorf. She travelled Europe, settling in Boston, and taught singing in the city.

The letter begins 'I wrote to you two or three days ago to say it would be impossible for me to sit for the bust. It must definitely be given up. Please tell Mr [...] not to senf the Box for Monday. I am called out of town this week and shall not return before the end of next week. In haste, yours truly Henry W. Longfellow'.

A post script reads 'not having your new address, I fear my previous letter did not reach you'.
 
A later issue, with advertisements correctly dated November, put with page 11 of the advertisements pricing this work at $1.25.

'Tales of a Wayside Inn' is a collection of poetry by the eminent American bard Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poems, in a similar vein to Chaucer's 'Tales', follows a group of people who frequent the Wayside Inn, in Sudbury, Massachusetts. 

Illustrated with an engraved title page, retaining the original tissue guard.