[Rarebooks] FS: Longfellow's copy of Copway's The Life, History and Travels book

[Duncan McLaren]

February 27th, 2007 marks 200th birthday anniversary of a renown  
American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

A perfect time to consider owning a unique and rare copy of a book  
presented to Professor Longfellow by George Copway

We believe this to a presentation copy in 1849 from George Copyway to  
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The inscription on the  front end paper  
reads as best we can make out  "Presented to Professor Longfellow  
Cambridge Mass by Kahgegagahbowh  Feb.? 16/49.  We have compared the  
handwriting to photocopies of letters from Copway to Longfellow form  
the Houghton Library and the handwriting appears to be the same.

Copway was a friend of Longfellow and a missionary in MI, MN, WI, IA,  
and IL. In June of 1854, he began 'The Song of Hiawatha'. And it is  
recorded that Longfellow had several meetings with an Ojibway chief  
(Copway) which helped provide the background for 'Hiawatha'.

A NOTICE (11 3/4" by 6" FOLDED) is glued inside the BACK COVER  
ANNOUNCING THE CHIEFS appearance at the TREMONT TEMPLE (adjacent to  
the BOSTON COMMON & STILL STANDING TODAY!!) on APRIL 15th - year NOT  
SPECIFIED!!.

Cover clean with Impressed decoration, Bindings Very Firm and pages  
are Very Crisp and Very Clean. Some foxing offset on title page and  
Copway photo. Philadelphia: J Harmstead, 1847, 6th Edition.

$15,000 US



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