[Rarebooks] FS: Ralph Waldo Emerson's first book, inscribed to a Concord historian

[Charles Agvent]

The following item is from our latest online list.  The entire list can be seen 
at http://www.erols.com/agvent

EMERSON,  Ralph  Waldo with SHATTUCK, Lemuel. A HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE,
DELIVERED  BEFORE  THE  CITIZENS OF CONCORD, 12TH  SEPT.  1835  with A
HISTORY  OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD. Concord: G. F. Bemis/John Stacy 1835.
First  Edition.  Original  blindstamped publisher's dark  brown  cloth
containing  in  this order: Shattuck's HISTORY OF CONCORD  (viii,  392
pages  with  folding map); an offprint REVIEW OF A HISTORY OF  CONCORD
FROM  THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW, No. XCI (20 pages); and  importantly,
Emerson's  address  on  the  Second   Centennial  Anniversary  of  the
incorporation  of  Concord (52 pages), INSCRIBED by the author on  the
top  of the title: "Mr. Lemuel Shattuck/with Mr. Emerson's comp."  The
end  of the final word in the inscription was trimmed and the original
blue  wrappers  discarded  when bound with the other  two  items,  the
original  size 6-7/16" x 9-3/4" trimmed to 5-1/2" x 8-3/4". BAL  5178;
Myerson  A2.1:  second  state with signature mark 3  present,  but  he
notes  that  the  order  of   states  is  arbitrary.  Emerson's  first
separately  published  substantial publication, preceded only  by  the
pamphlet  and  broadside printings of his 1832 LETTER...TO THE  SECOND
CHURCH,  is  scarce not only due to a likely very small  printing  but
also  to a fire at the Town-Clerk's office in Concord that is said  to
have  destroyed  most  copies.  Emerson consulted the proof sheets  of
Shattuck's  history,  published shortly after the town's  celebration,
in  creating  this  work, refering to it in 23 footnotes.  The  strong
circumstantial  evidence  leads us to believe this is  Shattuck's  own
copy  of  his  work and the offprint as well, bound together  for  him
with  the pamphlet given to him by Emerson. Bookplate of the  Reverend
Philip  Wheeler  on  the  front pastedown.  The  Shattuck  title  page
reinforced  at  the gutter. Near Fine, neatly rebacked  retaining  the
original spine. Superb!                                     $30,000.00

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CHARLES AGVENT
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Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
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