Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - March - 2007 Issue
Novels, Poetry and More from The Brick Row Book Shop
Poet and letter writer John Masefield.
The picture on the cover of this catalogue is the newest item therein. Labeled A Dog Long After Thurber, it is a circa 1990 signed drawing by John Updike. Updike grew up with dreams of becoming a cartoonist, and attended a school for drawing. He drew this Thurber-like dog for a fundraiser for Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio. Of course, Updike went on to become noted for his writing rather than illustrating, but it's nice to know he had a backup career in the waiting if the writing didn't work out. Item 81. $3,750.
Clara was an at least somewhat popular poet around her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, around the time of the Civil War. Unfortunately, she never reached quite the popularity of one-named personalities like Liberace, so we don't know exactly who she was. Possible last names are Marling, Leake, and Cole or Coles. The book includes a biographical sketch and obituary of her son, John L. Marling. These other names may represent her maiden name (Leake?) and perhaps a second marriage. Item 12 is a copy of Clara's Poems, an uncommon obscurity published in 1861. Some are actually by her daughter, Ada, and one was written by son John. John must have been an up and coming figure. He was a newspaper editor in Nashville and served as U.S. Minister to Guatemala from 1854-1856, but died that year at the age of just 30. He also must have been a bit of a hothead as he was injured in a duel with another newspaper editor in 1852. This copy comes with a nine-line handwritten poem for "Annie's Birthday," and is signed "Clara," dated November 16, 1866. $225.
Here is another handwritten, very personal poem. This one comes in the form of a letter, and was written by the better-known (than Clara) John Masefield, onetime English Poet Lauriat. Masefield once visited Wellesley College, and popped one of the buttons on his jacket. Fortunately, Katharine Balderston, an English Professor at the college, rescued the poet by sewing it back on. Masefield might have trouble asking a woman college professor to sew his button back on today, but this was 1916 and roles were more clearly defined then. Fortunately, Masefield appreciated her assistance, and wrote her these lines, not memorable poetry, but good intentions. Writes the poet, "Dear good Miss Balderston / who sewed the button on…Although the verse is lame / And the painting no great shake / I did them for your sake… The painting is a watercolor illustration on the letter. The verse may indeed be "lame," but here's your chance to purchase an unpublished Masefield original. Item 61. $500.
The Brick Row Book Shop may be visited online at www.brickrow.com, telephone 415-398-0414, email books@brickrow.com.
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