An Excellent Copy of "Hiawatha," Given and Received by Descendents of Johnathan Edwards

THE SONG OF HIAWATHA.

LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH.

(Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1855). 185 x 110 mm. (7 1/2 x 4 1/4"). iv, 316 pp., [2] blank leaves, 11, [1] pp. (ads). FIRST EDITION, First Printing.

Brown publisher's cloth, covers with blind-stamped decoration, smooth spine with gilt lettering. With the ads for Ticknor and Fields publications in the back. Front pastedown with bookplate of Charlotte W. Porter; front free endpaper with ink gift inscription to her from her brother, dated Christmas 1855 (see below). BAL 12112. Corners and head and tail of spine a little rubbed, scattered light marginal soiling and occasional spots internally, but generally fresh and pleasing, in its original smooth, clean, unmarked binding.

Longfellow's epic poem about the Native American "Hiawatha"--a composite of legends, folklore, myth, and characters presented in short, lilting lines--is one of the most famous works in 19th century American poetry. However, its initial reception was decidedly mixed when our first edition appeared in 1855. The "Boston Traveler," in revealing its (benighted) unwillingness to accept the work's content, said: "We cannot help but express our regret that our own pet national poet should not have selected as a theme of his muse something better and higher than the silly legends of the savage aborigines." The poem nevertheless went on to enjoy significant popular success, with its first printing of 5,250 copies of October 1855 selling out so quickly that two more printings were issued before the year was out, and six more following by April of the next year. Our copy is of this first printing, with all seven of the first issue points as laid out by BAL, but with the "n" in "one" that BAL notes is sometimes missing from the very earliest printings. The provenance here is of some significance. The presentation inscription reads: "Charlotte W. Porter / from her brother / E. C. P. / Hadley [Massachusetts] 25th Dec 1855 / Christmas." Charlotte Williams Porter (1840-1931) and her brother Edward Clark Porter (1836-1876) were direct descendents of the towering New England theologian and philosopher Jonathan Edwards (1703-58). The Porters were both on the Roll of Honour at Hadley Grammar School and Academy, after which Edward went on to Yale and later served as a clergyman in Wisconsin. Charlotte became founder and principal of The Elms, a top school for girls in Hadley, later moving the school to Springfield, Massachusetts. We could not find evidence of Charlotte's bookplate appearing elsewhere. This is not a rare book, but ours is an especially pleasing copy of an American classic in its original binding, and with appealing contemporary ownership. (ST19567-154)

Price: $950.00