Emerson, Ralph Waldo

Works. Cambridge, MA: The Riverside Press for Houghton Mifflin, 1903-04.



12 volumes, 8vo (8 1/2 x 5 3/4 in.; 220 x 145 mm). Illustrated with photogravures, autograph letter signed ("R. W. Emerson") tipped in to vol. 1, 3 pages (6 x 3 3/4 in.; 155 x 95 mm), Concord, 3 January 1861, to a Mr. Fish, announcing his plans to be in Cortland, New York 12-13 January for a speaking engagement; stain along top margin. Also in vol. 1 an inlaid manuscript fragment (5 x 7 3/4 in.; 125 x 195 mm) in Emerson's hand, being a quotation from Thomas Shepard's A Defence of the Answer Made unto the Nine Questions or Positions Sent from New England.  Green morocco by Lamothe, central cartouche with red morocco inlay, border composed of 6 gilt fillets, filleted green and aubergine doublures, central floral tool with red morocco inlays on front and rear covers within a gilt floral and foliate cartouche, maroon watered silk guards, spines in 6 compartments gilt with red morocco inlays (2 compartments reserved for lettering), top edges gilt reserved for lettering); a few joints lightly rubbed, head of spine of vol. 6 chipped.

The letter not in Rusk

12 volumes, 8vo (8 1/2 x 5 3/4 in.; 220 x 145 mm). Illustrated with photogravures, autograph letter signed ("R. W. Emerson") tipped in to vol. 1, 3 pages (6 x 3 3/4 in.; 155 x 95 mm), Concord, 3 January 1861, to a Mr. Fish, announcing his plans to be in Cortland, New York 12-13 January for a speaking engagement; also in vol. 1 an inlaid manuscript fragment (5 x 7 3/4 in.; 125 x 195 mm) in Emerson's hand, being a quotation from Thomas Shepard's A Defence of the Answer Made unto the Nine Questions or Positions Sent from New England. Green morocco by Lamothe, central cartouche with red morocco inlay, border composed of 6 gilt fillets, filleted green and aubergine doublures, central floral tool with red morocco inlays on front and rear covers within a gilt floral and foliate cartouche, maroon watered silk guards, spines in 6 compartments gilt with red morocco inlays (2 compartments reserved for lettering), top edges gilt reserved for lettering); a few joints lightly rubbed, head of spine of vol. 6 chipped.
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The Autograph Centenary Edition, copy 261 from a total edition of 600. Tipped in to volume 1 is a letter dated 3 January 1861 to a Mr. Fish in which Emerson announces his plans to be in Cortland, New York, to deliver several lectures to Mr. Fish and his friends, one of which is entitled "Clubs."  The manuscript fragment in the main was copied from the discourse  A Defence of the Answer Made unto the Nine Questions or Positions Sent from New England (1648) by John Allin and Thomas Shepard (1605-1649), one of the great preachers in the first generation of New England Puritans. The fragment begins: "When we look back and consider what a strange poise of spirit the Lord hath laid upon many of our hearts we cannot but wonder at ourselves that so many  and some so weak and tender with such cheerfulness and constant resolutions against so many persuasions of friends, discouragements from the ill report of this country, the straits, wants and trials of God's people in it yet should leave our accommodations and comforts, should forsake our dearest relations, Parents, Brethren, sisters, Xn (Christian) friends, and acquaintances ..."