Neighborly Poems on Friendship, Grief and Farm Life

Indianapolis: The Bowen-Merrill Co., 1897. Hardcover. Very Good. R. B. Gruelle. Two-tone green cloth with titles stamped in gilt. 90 pages with 6 illustrations. Matching dates (1891) to title and copyright pages, but 1897 to the publisher's catalogue at the rear. With a 30-line handwritten poem entitled "Spring" and the author's initials (JWR) to the verso of the front endpaper and the half-title. The poem is actually an early version of "When the Green Gits Back in the Trees". The poem would be added to later editions of this work, but does not appear in this volume. This version has "In the spring" in the first line, as opposed to "In spring" in the published version. Several words in this version were changed in the published version to reflect Riley's use of dialect. For example, Riley's use of the word "swet" in line 24 of the published version is "sweat" here. This copy does list "The Flying Islands of the Night" in the author's box. The publisher's catalogue has 21 pages, with the final entry for publications of the Indiana Historical Society. Riley's volumes are listed to "Armazindy" (1894). CONDITION: The cloth is lightly worn at the extremities, with a 1/4" scuff at the heel. The paper has mild toning, and the half-title is detached and laid in. It has two small chips which do not affect any of the lettering or writing. This page carries the last third of the handwritten poem and the author's initials. Former owner's name to the front endpaper; two small clippings affixed to the last page of the text. Otherwise a clean, tight copy. The half-title being detached is the probable result of handling the poem. Quite possibly a unique copy. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall