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(EMERSON, Ralph Waldo) BURNS, Robert.
Poems and Songs.
Illustrated with numerous engravings.
Presentation from Ralph Waldo Emerson to his nephew J. Haven Emerson, inscribed in RWE's autograph on the half-title, "J. Haven Emerson from his Uncle Waldo, 1859", perhaps as a nineteenth birthday present. The book is a handsomely-illustrated book of Burns's works, including "such of his popular Poems as may with propriety be given in a volume intended for the Drawing-room". John Haven Emerson (1840-1913) was second son of William Emerson (1801-1868), RWE's older brother, who had married Susan Woodward Haven in 1833. In keeping with an Emerson family habit, he was familiarly known by his second forename. His son Haven Emerson (b. 1874) served as health commissioner of New York City; and his grandson John Haven "Jack" Emerson (1906-1997) was an American inventor of biomedical devices, best remembered for significantly improving the iron lung.
Quarto (214 × 156 mm). Contemporary purple hard-grain morocco, spine gilt in compartments, sides bordered in gilt with a thick and thin rule and flower-head tools at corners, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. 50 steel-engraved illustrations in the text by T. Bolton, J. Cooper, E. Evans, J. Greenaway, Hammond, H. Harral, W. J. Linton, and W. Wright after designs by J. Archer, C. W. Cope, J. Drummond, S. Edmonston, Birket Foster, J. C. Horsley, Alex Johnston, George Thomas, F. W. Topham, and Harrison Weir; ornaments and tailpieces engraved by E. Evans after W. H. Rogers. Joints and corners rubbed, an excellent copy.
