DICKINSON, EMILY | Poems. First, Second, and Third Series. Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1890, 1891, and 1896

The Property of a Gentleman

DICKINSON, EMILY

Poems. First, Second, and Third Series. Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1890, 1891, and 1896

3 vols., 12mo. First Series: Minor toning. Gray and white publisher’s cloth stamped and lettered in gilt, silver floral motif, top edge gilt; front endpapers split, ownership inscription and booklabel to front free endpaper, to corners just bumped and rubbed, some toning, wear to head tail of spine, crease to spine, just affecting title. Second Series: Occasional and minor foxing. Gray publisher's cloth over bevelled boards, lettered and pictorially stamped in gilt, top edge gilt, white silk ribbon; ownership inscription to front free endpaper, some rubbing, ribbon detached but present. Third Series: Minor toning. Green and cream publisher's cloth, lettered and pictorially stamped in gilt, all edges gilt, white silk ribbon; minor soiling, some wear to head and tail of spine. Each in custom clamshell case. 

Group lots not subject to return. 

Together three first editions of Dickinson's first three books of poetry

These three collections were printed in runs of 500, 960, and 1000, respectively. Dickinson published only 11 poems in her lifetime. It was only after her death in 1886, that her sister discovered a locked box containing 1,775 of her manuscript poems. Mable Todd—a friend of Dickinson's, edited and published the three series. A disagreement between the Dickinson and Todd families led to the manuscripts being split, preventing the publication of a comprehensive edition of Dickinson's poetry for nearly 70 years. 

REFERENCE:

BAL 4655, 4656, 4661; Grolier, American 91

PROVENANCE:

Estelle Doheny (booklabel to front pastedown of Series Two)