The Gentleman from Indiana

New York: Doubleday & McClure Co., 1899. . 8vo, green cloth, stamped in yellow and red, corners a trifle bumped, t.e.black; rear inner hinge cracked but firm; half-morocco slipcase with cloth chemise FIRST EDITION of the author's first book; first state of the text in the first state of the binding with the ear of corn pointing up; ownership signature of Elizabeth F. M. HuntLAID INÑLemperly's bookplate signed by the author and an A.L.s, 1 1/2 pp. 1100 North Pennsylvania Street, July 5, 1900:"I very gladly sign your label which I enclose, and also allow me to congratulate you on the very artistic design [E. D. French 1900]."About the first edition of 'The Gentleman from Indiana': I do not know where a copy is obtainable yet there should be no difficulty about it, since it was a large edition, 5,000. I fancy Mr. J. L. Thompson (of Doubleday, Page & Co...N.Y. City) would know just where to find one...| Thanking you for your interest, I am | Very truly yours, | Booth Tarkington".This copy has appeared twice at auction, at Parke-Bernet, January 4-5, 1940 "The Library of Paul Lemperly", Lot 941 ($40); and again at PB on January 18. 1961 Lot 579 ($37) when it was purchased by a Richmond maritime collector from whose estate we recently acquired it. Interestingly, somewhere between 1940 and 1961, the book and letter were separated for there is also included a dealer's description of the letter alone, Item 243Ñpossibly from one of Walter M. Hill's catalogues, and a note "April 5Ñ1946 Walter M. Hill 'The Gentleman from Indiana' ...Signature laid in [presumably on the bookplateÑno mention of A.L.s]." Possibly Hill split the objects and catalogued them separately in a 1946 catalogue, and a single purchaser reunited them, perhaps Ms. Elizabeth F. M. Hunt?A real insight into the collecting habits of one of the founders of the Rowfant Club. The bookplate reads: "This Volume, | For Insertion in Which the Author | Has Been Pleased to Write His Name | [blank] | Is The Property of | Paul Lemperly."