HANDSOME ILLUSTRATED SET OF BRET HARTE’S WORKS

HARTE, Bret. The Writings. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, circa 1914. Twenty volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter burgundy morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt, uncut and largely unopened. $2800.

“Standard Library Edition” of Harte’s tales, essays and poems, with the scarce 20th volume, illustrated with vignette title pages, 107 engraved plates and two-page color map of the Pacific coast, very handsomely bound.

With the success of The Luck of Roaring Camp, and Other Sketches (1870)—“Eastern critics went headlong into eulogies” (Kunitz & Haycraft, 345)—Harte found himself world-famous. His popular tales of California life, particularly those set in mining country, made him a star of the lecture circuit and helped create the local-color school of American fiction. “An ability to observe and retain, a good narrative sense and a palatable humor are responsible for [Harte’s] continued prestige” (Kunitz & Haycraft, 346). These volumes include not only Harte’s poetry and prose but also a biographical sketch of the author, a glossary of “Far-Western” terms and an index to characters. Complete with the scarce 20th volume, which was first issued in 1914 as part of a limited edition. Each volume with half-title and engraved general title-page with vignette. BAL 7384. Bookplates.

Handsome bindings with light wear, one volume with joints expertly reinforced.