Alnwick Castle, with Other Poems

Halleck, Fitz-Greene

Published by Published by G. & C. Carvill, / Elliot & Palmer, Printers, New York, 1827

About this Item

12mo. 64 pages. Hardcover bound in early full leather with gilt rolls on the edges of the covers and some gilt designs and a burgundy leather label on the spine. The binding is worn but sound. A small paper label is affixed near the foot of the spine. Front hinge starting. The binding is a bit mottled, as if it were covered in some glossy treatment which is partly rubbed away. Early library bookplate on the front pastedown is crudely torn away, exposing some board beneath. An early price is written upside-down on the rear pastedown. Endpapers foxed; text is toned. Author's name is written in pencil on the title page. Fitz-Greene Halleck (1790-1867) was a popular poet in the early 19th century and was considered the "American Byron." He was born and raised in Guilford, Connecticut and was part of the "Knickerbocker Group." Halleck never married, and it has been suggested by his biographer that he was gay and was in love with his best friend and fellow writer, Joseph Rodman Drake. Halleck served as best man at Drake's wedding and he wrote of his love for his friend and his sorrow at the marriage. This volume also contains a poem "On the Death of Joseph Rodman Drake" written in 1820. A scarce book. The last copy reported to sell at an established Book Auction was in 1945 (Parke-Bernet) and it appears that the same book (from the 1945 record) appeared in the Scribner Catalogue of 1950. A 1939 catalogue (also Scribners) says of this title, "One of the scarcest books of American poetry, this contains Halleck?s best work: the stirring Marco Bozzaris, and the exquisite lines On the Death of Joseph Rodman Drake.".

Seller Inventory # 047295

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Alnwick Castle, with Other Poems
• Publisher: Published by G. & C. Carvill, / Elliot & Palmer, Printers, New York
• Publication Date: 1827
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition First Printing
• Condition: Fair
• Seller catalogs:
  • Leather Bindings
  • General Antiquarian & Rare
  • Poetry