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Gautier, Theophile, translated by Lafcadio Hearn : One of Cleopatra's Nights and Other Fantastic Romances

R. Worthington, New York, 1882

From bibliographer Merle Johnson's original catalog description for an auction of his Lafcadio Hearn collection in 1914: "The genuine first edition of the Translator's first work of high association interest being Hearn's own copy, with his (signature) stamp on the flyleaf and the copy presented by him to Miss Annie Fields Alden, daughter of the late editor of Harper's Magazine. An autograph note of one page, 12mo., by Miss Allen which accompanies the copy, reads as follows: "This copy of One of Cleopatra's Nights, was the property of Lafcadio Hearn. He gave it to me while visiting my father, Henry Mills Alden." (signed) "Annie Fields Alden." Miss Alden has written in her autograph a poem entitled "Egypt" of fourteen lines, commencing: "Fantastic sleep in busy with my eyes." and in addition has drawn a clever pencil sketch entitled: "The Serpent of the Nile" opposite page (1). At pages 4, 14, 18, 54, 120, 122, 139, 174 and 235 are corrections thought to be in the autograph of Hearn. (A modern note by us, with references that were not available to Johnson: They are.). A letter signed by F.A. Nast to Merle Johnson, which also accompanies the copy, reads: ".Mr. Alden has seen the book and he states that the poem in the handwriting of his daughter Annie. the picture he does not know anything about, but the correction in the text he believes were made by Mr. Hearn," etc. 8vo. Original publisher's red cloth, worn at extremities and with some staining from and back cover. This is the same condition it was in 1914, and we have declined to have it professionally restored, with our idea that the wear and staining were caused by the translator. Internally clean and unstained. Merle Johnson calls this book Hearn's first book. This translation precedes "Stray Leaves,." the first book authored by Hearn, by two years. Johnson claims this is the first state, with the publisher's name being in all capital letters at the binding's spine. The Bibliography of American Literature makes note of an earlier contribution by Hearn to a French language pamphlet published in New Orleans in 1879 and does not assign a priority to the capitalization of the publisher's name on this book.. Book. Book Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover

First Edition

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