Printed  on  vellum

Keats, John. Unpublished Poem To His Sister Fanny, April 1818. Manuscript facsimile with typographic transcription. Introduction by Charles C. Hurd. Boston, The Bibliophile Society, 1909. Small 4to. 22 (recte 20) pp. incl. etched title and imprint. Orig. half vellum with gilt back title. Uncut.

which had bought the manuscript as a present for William K. Birby shortly before.

Printed on double leaves, whose paging is confused: Imprint, title, and facsimile numbered inclusive, the other text exclusive of white pages. The facsimile leaves incorrectly bound at the end. – The etched title with the portrait medallions of Keats and Fanny and rich ornamentation. The imprint finely composed with the device of the Society, allegories of a bibliophile, and the imprint proper itself.

Extraordinary  bibliophile  item

worthy of this “largest newer poet of England” (Laaths), who was praised by Shelly in his grieved dirge at the early burial by the Cestius Pyramid in Rome.

“ A sheet of a poem of Keat’s remains in so far nothing but a poor sheet of paper, in so far not already the simple calling of this name awesome memory calls up on holy beautiful verses we have read by him and which are so real and present to our soul … ”

(Stefan Zweig on occasion of a Keats autograph).

Binding a little loosed and minimally unfresh. The etchings waved by print, otherwise absolutely fresh. – Irrespective of its for continental standards extremely high vellum edition practically not to be found on market.
Offer no. 13,091 / EUR  998. / Export price EUR  948. (c. US$ 1530.) + shipping

„ Habe heute Ihre Sendung dankend erhalten. Freue mich schon, das Buch meinem Mann … zu Weihnachten zu schenken. Liebe Grüße aus … am Dachstein “

(Frau K. G., 12. September 2007)