First Editions of American Authors : A Manual for Book-Lovers [George Herbert Palmer's copy]

Cambridge, MA: Stone & Kimball, 1893. Original Cloth. Fine-. First Trade Edition (a numbered edition of 50 large-paper copies signed by the publishers also was issued) of the first bibliography of American authors. Introduced by the poet Eugene Field. Foolscap 8vo (162 x 100mm): xxiv,223,[3]pp. Publisher's olive-green beveled cloth lettered in gilt to front cover and spine; top edge gilt, others uncut; title page in red and black; paper shelf label to spine. Engraved bookplate to front paste down of Harvard professor George Herbert Palmer (1842-1933). Laid in is a brief ALS from E. W. Rollins dated April 22, 1843, announcing a forthcoming class meeting at 18 Beacon Street. An excellent example in original cloth, tightly bound and clean throughout. Kramer 2. BAL 5756. The first bound volume issued by this publisher (called "Stone & Kimball's First Book"), providing bibliographic details of first editions of American authors listed alphabetically (from Henry Abbey to Samuel Woodworth, and including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Richard Harding Davis, Edgar Allan Poe, and Cotton Mather). Herbert Stuart Stone and Hannibal Ingalls Kimball were students at Harvard students when they founded Stone & Kimball and published a pamphlet in April 1893 called Chicago and the World's Fair [Kramer 1]. The guidebook turned a profit of $600 for the young publishers, who then issued this bibliography, edited by Stone. The firm continued until 1897, when Kimball left and it became known as Herbert S. Stone & Co. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).