Maticia, or the New Creation (poem): 1882 manuscript with original artwork by Scalp Level artists, plus 1914 published version

Very Good. The 1882 manuscript is bound with recent cloth spine and Arches paper covers, measures 11 x 8.5 inches, 60 leaves, the manuscript to Western Pennsylvania poet's long, visionary, Blakean and Whitmanesque poem, with fantastic, almost Swedenborgian scenes of "The New Creation," featuring Maticia, a beautiful woman, Azaziel, a powerful seraph, and other otherworldly figures, including the lovely Humana, an Eve-like figure who falls in love with a lyre-playing youth. Illustrated by a number of Scalp Level artists from Western Pennsylvania (so named for the compound of houses in Scalp Level, PA, Cambria County, where artists resided and painted, especially fine depictions of Pennsylvania woodlands and landscapes): there is an oil painting by George Hetzel (8 x 5.5 inches); A. S. Wall drew a pen and ink wash moonlit scene to illustrate a section of the poem. J. R. Woodwell contributes four works: a pencil sketch of a mysterious mountainous vista; a lakeside view in moonlight, pen and ink wash; and a darkly evocative pen and ink wash of arches of "vast jasper rock;" and a pen and ink wash of Humana standing naked on a rocky shore, with beating heart. W. H. H. Algeo contributes an elaborate pencil woodland scene with lake and mountains in the distance, a youth with lyre, delicately shaded, in the foreground. H. Wegner supplies a beautiful pencil sketch of Humana and the youth, in an Adam and Eve posture evocative of Old Master paintings. Martin Leisser supplied an oil painting of Humana waking in a woodland glade, while above her in the stormy clouds, Azaziel and Maticia float. E. J. Bussman adds a fine pencil drawing of enrobed Maticia, next to a lakeside villa, hands raised, proclaiming "Hail, beauteous world." Altogether ten elaborate artworks that are totally unlike the subject matter these artists are usually known for. The published book from 1914 contains reproductions in b/w of all these artworks plus a 1914 painting by A. F. King of Azaziel walking alongside Maticia who is bestride a lion. The frontispiece of the author is signed "Uncle Will." In Pittsburgh, Pope was well known as a poet, mainly of patriot and theological works. The works of the Scalp Level artists are highly sought after.