EMERSON, RALPH WALDO | Representative Men. Seven Lectures. London: John Chapman, 1850

The Property of a Gentleman

EMERSON, RALPH WALDO

Representative Men. Seven Lectures. London: John Chapman, 1850

8vo (4 5/8 x 7 5/8 in.; 120 x 195 mm). Series title, publisher's advertisements at end; a few stray spots. Original plum colored cloth, elaborately decorated in blind (Myerson’s binding A), spine gilt lettered; spine and edges sunned. In custom rust linen and silk clamshell case.

First London edition, the Lord Lovelace presentation copy, inscribed “Right Honble Earl of Lovelace With the Author’s Compliments” on the front free endpaper (likely in the hand of Emerson's publisher) 

William, Lord Lovelace—married to Ada Byron, who would become the world's first computer programmer, who was the daughter of Lord Byron—was present at a number of the “Representative Men” lectures that Emerson delivered in England in 1848.

Lovelace and Emerson met frequently in London, especially at his publisher Chapman’s house, where the author boarded. In his journal entry for 17 November 1849, Emerson wrote, “I sent Chapman orders to send copies of Representative Men to T. Carlyle; J.A. Froude; Earl of Lovelace; Arthur Helps; Mrs. Paulet; John Forster; Arthur H. Clough; Miss Ellen Randall; Dr. Samuel Brown, Edinburgh; Edwin Field; J.J.G. Wilkinson. I must add...Miss Martineau; Dr. Jacobson; C.E. Rawlins, Jr.; John Kenyon Esq.” 

A wonderful presentation copy

REFERENCE

BAL 5219

PROVENANCE

William King, Lord Lovelace (presentation inscription on front free endpaper) — Whitwell Hatch (library blindstamp to front free endpaper)