Riley Love-Lyrics by James Whitcomb Riley (Eleventh Edition), Undated 📜💘🖋️

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This listing is for a vintage Eleventh Edition of "Riley Love-Lyrics," a collection of poetry by the celebrated "Hoosier Poet" James Whitcomb Riley.

Published by The Bobbs-Merrill Company, this volume features charming "Life Pictures" by William B. Dyer and a decorative pictorial binding, making it a handsome and sentimental addition to any home library.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

"Riley Love-Lyrics" is an anthology of poems by James Whitcomb Riley, focusing on themes of love, romance, and nostalgia. The collection features his characteristic sentimental and heartfelt verses, capturing the essence of rural American life and its simple pleasures.

Riley's poetry, with its accessible language and warm tone, evokes a sense of familiarity and sentimentality, making this a perfect collection for readers who appreciate classic American verse.

3. About the Author ✍️🏛️

James Whitcomb Riley was an American poet and author, known as the "Hoosier Poet" for his celebration of Indiana and Midwestern culture in his works. His achievements include becoming one of the most popular and best-selling poets of his time, captivating audiences with his accessible and sentimental verse.

Riley's use of dialect poetry, while sometimes criticized for its romanticized portrayal of rural life, resonated with readers seeking a nostalgic connection to their roots. His ability to evoke a sense of warmth and simplicity in his writing earned him a dedicated following and solidified his place as a cherished figure in American popular culture.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

The fact that this book is an Eleventh Edition speaks to the immense popularity of James Whitcomb Riley's poetry at the turn of the century.

The book is a tangible artifact from a period when gift books and beautifully bound anthologies of popular poets were in high demand, reflecting a cultural fascination with sentimental and nostalgic themes.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for an enthusiast of classic American poetry, a curator of sentimental literature, or a private collector who values a book for its aesthetic appeal.

The personal inscriptions add a unique touch of human history, making this an ideal acquisition for an individual who cherishes the story behind an artifact. This book is for the collector who is interested in the intersection of American culture and the history of popular literature.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This vintage edition of "Riley Love-Lyrics" is a fine item for any enthusiast of classic American poetry. Its value is not in its rarity but in its literary and aesthetic appeal. The book’s decorative pictorial binding and its "Life Pictures" by William B. Dyer make it a charming display piece.

The personal inscriptions, "Miss Eva L Freiburghouse" and "Mildred Esley To: Eva F.," add a unique touch, connecting this book to a past owner and a specific moment in time. This is a fine example of a gift-book from the early 20th century.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This book is a used hardcover edition with a decorative pictorial binding.

• The binding shows visible wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and some discoloration to the boards.

• The pages are age-toned but remain clear and legible.

• A handwritten inscription is on the front endpaper, which provides a physical link to the book's past.

• This item came from a local estate sale and was in the previous owner's home office for many years.

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

A handwritten inscription on the front endpaper reads: "Miss Eva L Freiburghouse" and "Mildred Esley To: Eva F."

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• While undated, this edition is from around 1905, which speaks to the book's immense popularity at the time, as it had already reached its eleventh printing.

• The illustrator, William B. Dyer, was a well-known portrait photographer and artist of the era, and his "Life Pictures" were a notable feature of many early 20th-century books.

• The Bobbs-Merrill Company was a major publishing house that often produced beautifully designed books for the gift market, and this volume is a prime example of their work.

10. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Author: James Whitcomb Riley

• Publication Date: Undated (c. 1905)

• Edition: Eleventh Edition

• Publisher: The Bobbs-Merrill Company

• Place of Publication: Indianapolis

• Illustrator(s): William B. Dyer

• Unique Provenance: "Eva L Freiburghouse" inscription.

• Book Cover Type: Hardcover with decorative pictorial binding.

• Genre: Poetry, Americana, Classic.