Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hammersmith: Doves Press, 1906. Fine. One of 300 copies on paper. There were also 25 copies on vellum. This is a beautiful copy of this volume of essays by Emerson. Cobden-Sanderson, the founder of the press met Emerson in the 1860s when he visited London, and he had made quite an impression. He saw him as "a pinnacle of a man," and according to Marianne Tidcombe in her book The Doves Press, "was attracted to Emerson's idealism and to the hint of mysticism that coloured his view of nature." The twelve essays in this volume include "Self-Reliance," "Spiritual Laws," "Love," "Friendship," and "Intellect and Art," among others.

In a full limp vellum binding with titling in gilt to spine, and a coat of arms in gilt on the front cover. Spine lettering slightly faded. Vellum lightly creased on top and bottom edges. The arms are those of the Mander family. Sir Charles Tertius Mander of the paint and varnish company Mander Brothers, became a baronet in 1911. The binding must have been done after this as it uses his coat of arms registered that year. Affixed to the front pastedown is the book label of Gerald Poynton Mander of Tettenhall Wood in Staffordshire, the second son of the first baronet. His library sold at auction at Sotheby in 1954. Interior pages are elegantly printed in black with red initials. An extremely nice copy in about fine condition. Small quarto. 312 pages. PRI/092424. (Inventory #: 37481)