Orations, Lectures, and Addresses

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Published by H.G. Clarke and Co., 66, Old Bailey, London, 1845

About this Item

FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, SECOND PRINTING. Publisher's full black morocco, elaborately gilt-stamped and decorated, with pale yellow endpapers. All edges gilt. With the original illuminated front wrapper bound in after the half-title. The wrapper is a variant unknown to Myerson. Regarding another Emerson title from this series, BAL states that while "[r]umors persist of copies in illuminated boards.[c]ontemporary notices indicated that the book was issued in illuminated wrappers only." Myerson, likewise, describes only wrappered issues of this and Clarke's other Emerson titles. Jane Austen bibliographer David Gilson, however, notes that copies of Clark's 1844 edition of Sense and Sensibility are found, as here, in full morocco gilt with "all edges gilt, pale yellow endpapers, [and] with the front 'illuminated wrapper' bound in.? Michael Sadlier (Excursions in Victorian Bibliography) claimed that "several of the titles in [Clarke's Cabinet] series were reissued.by George Slater bound in.morocco.with gold decoration and titling on the spine." Clarke opened business in 1843, was bankrupt by January of 1846, with his unsold stock auctioned of in 1848. I have seen other copies of Clarke?s Emerson and Austen titles similarly bound, and an identically bound copy of this title, with an 1847 owner signature. So, whether a deluxe binding by Clarke or an anonymous remainder binding by Slater, circa 1846 or 1847, it is clearly a publisher's binding. The front joint is cracked at the top and bottom and the front board is slightly bowed. Some mottling to the rear board. Good to Very Good. The First appearance in England of Emerson?s most famous orations, including The American Scholar address (Man Thinking) and The Divinity School Address, as well as the first book appearance of Emerson's "The Young American," first published a few months earlier in The Dial. Rare. Myerson located only four copies of the First, and a single copy of this Second Printing. BAL 5197. Myerson A 14.1.b.

Seller Inventory # 000300

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Orations, Lectures, and Addresses
• Publisher: H.G. Clarke and Co., 66, Old Bailey, London
• Publication Date: 1845
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good