Landmark Books in All Fields
ItemID: #49174
Cost: $2,600.00

Typed poem - Signed

Paul Laurence Dunbar

TYPED POEM SIGNED BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

DUNBAR, Paul Laurence. Typed poem signed. No place, circa 1900. One sheet, 8-1/2 by 11 inches. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $2600.

Typed poem in dialect signed by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Apparently a printer’s or publisher’s copy.

Frederick Douglass called Dunbar, the first African-American literary figure to achieve national prominence, "one of the sweetest songsters his race has produced and a man of whom I hope great things." Dunbar was particularly noted for writing his poetry in both classical English and in African-American dialect. There are several autograph changes to the poem, likely written by Dunbar, and the word "accept" is written above the poem. The first of three stanzas of the poem reads: "Fu' de peace o' my eachin' heels, set down, / don' fiddle dat chune no mo'. / Don' you see how dat melody stuhs me up? / An' baigs me to tek to de flo'?/ You knows I's a Christian, good an' strong: / I wusship f'om June to June; / My pra'ahs dey ah loud an' my hymns ah long; / I baig you don' fiddle dat chune." The poem concludes with Dunbar's signature. It appears this was a copy submitted to a publisher.

Light rubbing with some loss to extremities of paper. One rub to poem. A wonderful, extremely good copy.

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