Americana Holiday 2022 - 58 - “We Owe This Assistance For The Sake Of The Good Name Of America And Above All For The Sake Of Humanity”: Remarkable Autograph Manuscript Introduction Written And Signed By Teddy Roosevelt, With Both The Deluxe Limited First Edition Quarto Edition And The First Trade Edition Of Edith Wharton’s The Book Of The Homeless, 1916 54. (ROOSEVELT, Theodore) WHARTON, Edith, editor. Autograph manuscript signed (“Theodore Roosevelt”). WITH: The Book of the Homeless (Le Livre des Sans-foyer), both octavo edition and quarto edition. Oyster Bay, Long Island and New York, 1915, 1916. Two leaves of stationery, each measuring 8-1/2 by 10 inches; pp. 2. WITH: Octavo, original half gilt-stamped red cloth. WITH: Quarto, original gilt-stamped half tan cloth, together in a custom half morocco three-part slipcase. $27,500. Exceptional autograph manuscript of the introduction to The Book of the Homeless written and signed by Theodore Roosevelt, accompanied by both the regular first edition (octavo) and the deluxe large-paper first edition (quarto)—one of only 125 copies on Van Gelder Paper printed and signed by Daniel B. Updike at the Merrymount Press (out of a total deluxe edition of 175 copies)—of this war-relief anthology edited by Wharton, each with an introduction by Theodore Roosevelt, four facsimiles of manuscripts, and 22 illustrations by prominent artists (eight in color). The Book of the Homeless was sold for the benefit of the American Hostels for Refugees (with the Foyer Franco-Belge) and of the Children of Flanders Rescue Committee (founded by Wharton). Poems, short stories and sheet music were contributed by Sarah Bernhardt, Paul Bourget, Rupert Brooke, Paul Claudel, Jean Cocteau, Joseph Conrad, Thomas Hardy, Henry James, Igor Stravinsky, Wharton herself, W.B. Yeats and many others. Artists providing illustrations include Bakst, Beerbohm, Gibson, Monet, Renoir, Rodin and Sargent. Aimed at an English-speaking audience, the French selections also appear in English translation, most translated by Wharton. Theodore Roosevelt wrote the powerful introduction to Wharton’s work. The signed autograph manuscript of that introduction—included here—contains many differences from the published version. The most substantial change is the deletion of the following underlined words: “… even if the neutral nations, and especially the United States, should at last wake up to the [the performance of the] duty they have so shamefully failed to perform and should insist upon Belgium being restored to her own people….” The removal of those clauses removed the nationalistic sentiment and rendered the overall tone calmer and more measured. An English edition, published in London by Macmillan, appeared simultaneously. The limited deluxe edition here is an out of series copy. On the colophon, “copy number” has been crossed out and the following note has been added by hand by D.B. Updike of the Merrymount Press: “Unnumbered copy for designer of decoration, R.R. [signed] D.B. Updike.” Garrison D1.1.a and b. Booklabel. Inner hinges expertly reinforced, about-fine condition.
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