"IMMORTAL IS AN AMPLE WORD": FIRST EDITION OF EMILY DICKINSON'S POEMS (THIRD SERIES)

DICKINSON, Emily. Poems. Third Series. Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1896. Small octavo, original gilt-stamped white cloth with green cloth spine, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $6000.

First edition of Emily Dickinson's third book of poems, one of only 1000 copies printed.

Emily Dickinson published only 11 poems during her lifetime, but upon her death in 1886, her sister Lavinia discovered 1775 manuscript poems. Mabel Todd edited and published the three series of these poems until a quarrel between the Dickinson and Todd families led to a division of the manuscripts, preventing the further publication of complete and authoritative editions of Dickinson's poetry until 70 years after her death (Wolff). Dickinson's lyrics, "her letter to the world," offer an account "of the life about her, of tiny ecstasies set in motion by mutations of the seasons or by home and garden incidents, of candid insights into her own states of consciousness, and of speculations on the timeless mysteries of love and death. Her mind was charged with paradox" (Hart, 201). Third Series is the third of three books of Dickinson's poetry published by Mabel Todd. Myerson's binding A, with gilt rules marking the meeting of the green cloth spine and white cloth boards, as opposed to full gray or olive cloth binding (no priority established). Without ribbon marker (not issued with all copies). Myerson A4.1a. BAL 4661. Clendenning 67. Jones Library, 17.

Interior fine, just a hint of darkening to fresh cloth, gilt bright. A beautiful copy.