LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH | Two First Editions

The Property of a Gentleman

LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH

Two First Editions

Voices of the Night. Cambridge: John Owen, 1842. 12mo (4 3/8 x 7 in.; 115 x 175 mm). Half-title; on or two stray spots. Original brown paper-covered boards, paper label to cloth spine; some staining to boards, front hinge split but holding, ships to head and tail of spine and paper label. In custom quarter brown morocco over cloth slipcase and folding chemise. First edition, second state, in original boards. BAL 12065. Carolyn Wells (bookplate to front pastedown) — The Belfry of Bruges and Other Poems. Cambridge: John Owen, 1846. 8vo (4 3/4 x 7 in.; 120 x 180 mm). Half-title, one or two stray spots. Original cream wrappers, decoratively printed in gold; minor foxing, minor wear to edges, vertical cracks to spine, minor chips to foot of spine. In custom red and brown linen clamshell case. First edition, first printing. BAL 12083

Group lots not subject to return.

Together two fine first editions, including Longfellow's first major collection of poetry

The Belfry of Bruges, which stands in the center of the Belgian town, once housed a treasury as well as the municipal archives. Built in 1240, it was ravaged by fire in 1280, and the city's records were forever lost. The tower was twice more consumed by flames before Longfellow composed his poem, in which he references these disasters.