$819
Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500
A Fine Collection of American Literature and History
Auction: June 8, 2023 12:00 PM EDT
1. Sartain's Union Magazine of Literature and Art
Philadelphia: Published by John Sartain & Co., January-August, 1852. Vol. X, Nos. 1-6; Vol. XI, Nos. 1-2 (all published of this volume). 4to. Illustrated with engraved title-page, engraved frontispiece, and numerous engraved plates and in-text illustrations. Contemporary three-quarter brown morocco over brown cloth-covered boards, stamped in gilt, extremities and joints rubbed, boards soiled; all edges trimmed; scattered foxing to text and plates. Borst D40 and D41
A scarce copy of John Sartain's Union Magazine, featuring the first printed appearance of any part of Henry David Thoreau's then unpublished masterpiece Walden. Thoreau's two essays are printed in the final two numbers of Vol. XI of Sartain's magazine, the last two published before it ceased operations in August, 1852. The first contribution, "The Iron Horse" is printed in No. 1 on pages 66-68, and the second "A Poet Buying a Farm" is printed in No. 2 on page (127). Walden would not be published for another two years, in 1854 (see lot 55).
2. The United States Magazine, and Democratic Review
New York, November, 1843. Vol. XIII, No. LXV. Includes his book review “Paradise (to be) Regained” on pp. 451-463. Borst D29
3. The Union Magazine, Volume III
New York, July-December, 1848. Title-page wanting. Includes his travel essays “Ktaadn, and the Maine Woods” printed in five installments: July, pp. 29-33; August, pp. 73-79; September, pp. 132-137; October, 177-182; November, pp. 216-220. Borst D38
4. Putnam’s Monthly Magazine of American Literature, Science, and Art
New York and London, January to June, 1853. Vol. I, Nos. I-VI, bound together in publisher’s cloth and issued as “Vol. I”. Includes his unsigned travels essays “An Excursion to Canada”, printed in three installments: January, pp. 54-59; February, pp. 179-184; March, pp. 321-329. Borst D42
5. The Atlantic Monthly
Boston, etc., June, 1862. Vol. IX, No. LVI. Includes his unsigned essay, “Walking” on pp. 657-674. Borst D49
6. The Atlantic Monthly
Boston, etc., October, 1862. Vol. X, No. LX. Includes his unsigned essay, “Autumnal Tints” on pp. 385-402. Borst D51
7. The Atlantic Monthly
Boston, etc., October, 1864. Vol. XIV, No. LXXXIV. Includes his unsigned travel essay, “The Wellfleet Oysterman” on pp. 470-478. Laid in is the “hardly ever found” List of Contents and Contributors for this issue, printed separately and giving the names of all of the contributors. Borst D71
8. Scribner’s Monthly
New York, September, 1878. Vol. XVI, No. 5. Includes his signed essay “Days and Nights in Concord” on pp. 721-728. Borst D79
Lot also includes F.B. Sanborn’s The Personality of Thoreau, Boston, 1901. #362/500 copies printed. Previously unpublished Thoreau writings. Borst C17