presentation copy of a legendary American poem
LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH. The Courtship of Miles Standish, and Other Poems
Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1858
12-page catalogue dated October 1858. The first printing contains the line “The revel of the treacherous wine” on p. 124; without single-leaf ad for the Waverly Novels, as often. Original brown cloth. Spine ends and joints worn, hinges cracked, some dampstains. Cloth slipcase.
FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FIRST PRINTING. A fine presentation copy inscribed by Longfellow on the day of publication: “Mrs. Palfrey with best regards of the Author. October 16. 1858.” The recipient of this copy was Longfellow’s longtime friend Mary Ann (Hammond) Palfrey, the wife of the Harvard Professor of Sacred Literature, historian and member of Congress, John Gorham Palfrey.
Longfellow’s celebrated narrative poem about the early days of Plymouth Colony tells the story of a love triangle between Puritan captain Miles Standish, his roommate John Alden, and the clever maiden Priscilla Mullins. It explores themes of love, duty, and friendship against the backdrop of early colonial life, including conflict with Native Americans. The poem ends with the marriage of Alden and Priscilla, with Standish’s blessing. Miles Standish, who embodies American bravery, loyalty, and determination, serves as an early American heroic ideal.
Longfellow, a descendant of Alden and Mullins, based his tale on family tradition. He first referred to the poem as “Priscilla” and only later settled on the name by which it became famous, “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Longfellow’s book was extremely successful both in America and England. Published on October 16, 1858, it sold 25,000 copies in two months, and it long remained a popular and influential work.
This is a fine presentation copy of one of the most beloved Longfellow poems, a work that shaped the American cultural memory for generations.
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