Poems: Second Series
Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1891.
First edition, first printing. Bound in the publisher's rare gift binding in half white goatskin and floral-patterned paper over boards, spine tooled in gilt at compartments with gilt-lettered and tooled morocco spine labels, all edges gilt. Originally printed on October 21, 1891 and issued in three binding styles. This is by far the scarcest variant for this title; the other two bindings were issued new at a price of $1.25 and $1.50, while this binding was originally issued at a pricey $3.50, the equivalent of $120 today. Near Fine with rubbing to spine with some loss to gilt decorations, light soiling and edge wear to boards, photographic postcard of Dickinson's home in Amherst, MA mounted on front pastedown. Front inner hinge slightly exposed, former ownership of Charlotte F. Roberts dated Christmas 1893, at front flyleaf; light pencil numerals written on rear leather turn-ins. Housed in a custom lavender colored morocco slip case lettered in gilt. An absolutely beautiful production of Dickinson's second volume of collected poetry with her most well-known poems, such as "I'm nobody! Who are you?" and "Wild nights! Wild nights!" The scarcest variant binding for this title. Myerson notes "copies in Binding C have also been bound with a gathering omitted or a leaf a1 cancelled. In all copies, leaf 15 4 has been cancelled. Myerson A2.1.a, BAL4656.
Price: $18,500