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Lyrics of the Hearthside by Paul Laurence Dunbar (RARE, First Edition), 1899 ✍️ 📜🇺🇸

Name: Lyrics of the Hearthside by Paul Laurence Dunbar (RARE, First Edition), 1899 ✍️ 📜🇺🇸
Brand: Wall Antiques
Price: 2250.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$2,250.00

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1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare first edition of Lyrics of the Hearthside by Paul Laurence Dunbar, published in 1899 by Dodd, Mead and Company.

This volume is a key piece of the author's work that solidified his reputation as a leading American poet. It is a literary artifact that captures African American life and intellectual thought at the turn of the 20th century. This book is a cornerstone for any collection focused on American literary history and the social landscape of the post-Reconstruction era.

This collection follows Dunbar’s success with Lyrics of Lowly Life and further explores themes of love, loss, and the African American experience. It showcases his masterful ability to write in both conventional English and the dialect verse that brought him international fame.

The book's publication came at a crucial time, offering an artistic voice during a period of immense social and racial challenges. The enduring message of resilience and hope makes it a foundational piece of American culture.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Lyrics of the Hearthside is a rich collection of Dunbar's poetry, showcasing his thematic breadth and stylistic versatility. The poems range from romantic verses to reflections on life and society.

A key poem in this volume is "Sympathy," which contains the famous line that inspired the title of Maya Angelou's autobiography, "I know why the caged bird sings."

The book's content provides a nuanced glimpse into the emotional and intellectual life of a pioneering African American writer.

The poems in this collection are often more introspective and domestic than some of his earlier works, focusing on themes of home, family, and personal life. The title itself suggests a move toward a warmer, more intimate portrayal of African American life, offering a counterpoint to the more overtly political themes of his other poems.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) was born in Dayton, Ohio, to formerly enslaved parents. Despite facing racial discrimination, his literary talent was recognized early, and he became a prolific writer in his short life, which was cut short at age 33 by tuberculosis. He left behind a profound body of work that included novels, short stories, and essays, in addition to his famous poetry.

This book was published by Dodd, Mead and Company, a prestigious New York-based firm known for the quality of its publications and its support of a diverse range of American authors. Their continued partnership with Dunbar, after the success of his previous work, demonstrates their recognition of his talent.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1899, this book emerged from a period of great contradiction in American society. While the post-Reconstruction era saw the rise of Jim Crow laws and institutionalized racism, it was also a period of remarkable achievement and resilience for African Americans. This era saw the founding of prominent institutions like the National Medical Association and the American Negro Academy, of which Dunbar was a member.

Dunbar's work served as both an inspiration and a point of departure for a new generation of writers who would further challenge the status quo. This book documents a period when the mentality toward racial equality was shifting, and his work was at the forefront of this change. It highlights how the practices and attitudes of the era eventually laid the groundwork for modern civil rights movements.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a scholar of American literature, a historian of the post-Reconstruction era, or a private collector building a focused collection of early African American literary works. This volume would be a centerpiece in a library dedicated to the history of civil rights or American poetry.

It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who seeks to understand the cultural and social aspects of late 19th-century America. The book speaks directly to a buyer who is a historian at heart, someone who understands the profound story behind an object and its place in the struggle for racial equality in America.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a first edition from 1899, this book is a unique and non-replicable asset. The value is derived from its market scarcity and its documented history as a pivotal work of American literature. The book's importance in the history of African American writing significantly enhances its value, placing it in a category of holdings typically found in institutional collections.

The presence of an inscription and a specific bookplate adds a layer of verifiable history that increases its desirability. A strategic investor recognizes that the opportunity to acquire a first edition of this publication is a singular event for a private collector. Its price reflects its condition, age, and status as a foundational text in a major literary movement. The book’s well-preserved state, including its tight binding and clean interior, further justifies its premium price.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

Based on the provided photos, the book's binding is original and solid. As expected for a book over 120 years old, it shows wear and rubbing consistent with its age.

Binding: The original binding shows wear and rubbing consistent with age.
Interior: The pages exhibit the natural process of toning and some foxing, which is normal for paper from this period.
Structural Integrity: The overall condition reflects a book that has been cared for, with its structural integrity remaining solid.

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

The book contains an inscription written in ink on the front endpaper, as well as a dedication from the author.

Transcription: "S. B. Heckman. 1927 20– 1st ed" and "NT / 1.25".
The Seal: The bookplate is for the "LIBRARY OF SARAH D. GRAY," which also contains the initials "SDG".

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

Paul Laurence Dunbar’s parents, both formerly enslaved, instilled in him a deep appreciation for storytelling and the power of words. His mother, Matilda, learned to read specifically to help him with his schooling.
Dunbar's poem "Sympathy" is one of his most celebrated works. Its use of the metaphor of a caged bird to describe the plight of African Americans resonates and remains relevant today.
Dunbar was a high school classmate of aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright.
This book was published in 1899, the same year the American Negro Academy was founded, of which Dunbar was a member.