Rare American Books and Manuscripts from The 19th Century Shop
Rare American Books and Manuscripts from The 19th Century Shop
Louisa May Alcott based the character "Marmee" in Little Women on her own mother, Abba May Alcott. She obviously had deep love and respect for her mother, which was translated into this character. In her mother's later years, Louisa May took care of her. A stanza in her poem "Transfiguration" pays tribute to Mrs. Alcott: "Oh noble woman! Never more than a queen / Then in the laying down / Of scepter & crown / To win a greater kingdom yet unseen." A handwritten copy of these lines, complete with her autograph, "L. M. Alcott," is offered. $2,500.
The Brooklyn, New York, Fire Department was established in 1869. It started with 13 engines and a crew of most professional firemen (they were all men then). Around 1870, someone put together a poster containing twelve photographs of these firemen and the Brooklyn firehouse, engine number one parked outside. Today, the Brooklyn Fire Department has gone the way of the Brooklyn Dodgers. No, not to Los Angeles, but out of existence. It was merged into the New York City Fire Department in 1898, a successor fire company that became the most famous in the world for its bravery on a dark day a few years ago. The display of 13 photographs is priced at $4,800.
One of the more important collections of American poetry was published in 1845. This is a first edition of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven and Other Poems. They were described by Poe as thirty of his best poems, but even his best didn't seem to impress Poe that much. "I think nothing in this volume of much value to the public, or very creditable to myself," he states in the preface. Whatevermore. $15,000.
The 19th Century Shop may be reached online at www.19thcenturyshop.com or by phone at 410-727-2665.