Description
Offered here is the 1890 first edition of Local and National Poets of America, edited by Thos. W. Herringshaw and published in Chicago by the American Publishers’ Association. This is the big, fully illustrated biographical anthology that gathers over one thousand living American poets of the late 19th century and presents them with biographical sketches and sample poems. It was conceived as a national roll call of American verse – not just the famous names, but also the local, regional, and often hard-to-find writers who were publishing in newspapers, church and temperance papers, and small-town presses around 1890. It is especially useful for genealogy, women’s writing, and regional literary history.
The book is in its original maroon/burgundy cloth with the attractive gilt allegorical figure and cherub on the front board, beveled boards, and – unusually nice for a working reference of this size – all edges gilt (A.E.G.). That makes this copy the decorative/shelf version, not the plainer issue.
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Title: Local and National Poets of America
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Editor: Thomas W. Herringshaw
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Publisher/Place/Date: American Publishers’ Association, Chicago, 1890
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Contents: biographical sketches and poetic selections from 1,000+ living American poets
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Illustrated: “Profusely illustrated with over five hundred lifelike portraits” (in-text portrait cuts throughout, incl. major figures such as William Dean Howells, shown in the photos)
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Binding: original gilt-stamped cloth, beveled boards, all edges gilt
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Research value: excellent for identifying obscure, local, and women poets who do not appear in the standard East Coast anthologies
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Extra: an old pressed clover bookmark was found in the text and will be left in place
Condition (please read):
Maroon cloth shows rubbing and fraying at spine ends and corners, with a few small surface spots to the front board (see photos). Gilt on the front cover remains presentable. Front inner hinge is cracked/starting and the rear inner hinge shows a visible crack as well, but both boards are still attached and the text block sits square – typical for this very heavy 1890 volume. Original patterned endpapers present. Text pages generally clean for age, with a couple of small brown spots in the inner gutter as shown. Light age toning only. Because of the size and age of the book, please view all photos to judge completeness and condition for yourself.
A solid, decorative, and still very useful copy of the 1890 Herringshaw anthology – the kind of volume that turns up a poet you can’t find anywhere else.
