The Passion of American Collectors: Property of Barbara an🌳d Ira Lipman

Thoreau, Henry David

A fine group of first editions from the collection of T🎃heo Brown and his wife Sara

Excursions. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1863. BAL 20111 — Cape Cod. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1865. Inscribed in pencil "Theo. Brown, 26 Chestnut St." Publisher's ads at end. BAL 20115 — A Yankee in Canada. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1866.Inscribed "Theo. Brown, with the kind regards of S. E. Thoreau." BAL 20117 — Early Spring in Massachusetts. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1881. Inscribed "Sarah Brown from H. G. O. Blake, Feb. 28th 1881." BAL 20123 — Summer. Boston, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1884.Inscribed "Mrs. Theo. Brown, with the affectionate regards of H. G. O. Blake, Worcester, June 5, 1884." Folding map of Concord at front, publisher's ads at end. BAL 20127. 

Together five volumes, 8vo. Various publisher's cloth; condition varies, but🧸 generally good🐟. Uniform half blue morocco slipcases, chemises; some wear and fading.

First editions, association copies, two inscribed by the editor H.G.O. Blake to the widow of Theo Brown

Harrison Gray Otis Blake was a close friend and disciple of Thoreau. He would later edit his friend's journals for posthumous publication. "Havingꦗ shielded Thoreau's enormous manuscript journal from the publishing designs of several aspirants, [Thoreau's sister] Sophia at her death in 1876 bequeathed those notebooks and extensive additional papers to Blake, whom she regarded as the most loyal and sympathetic of Thoreau's friends" (ANB).

Sarah Brown was the widow of Theophilus Brown, a Worcester tailor whose humor 𓆉and ꦇcharm attracted the city's intellectuals to his shop, and earned him the nickname "the wit of Worcester." Brown met Thoreau through their mutual friend H.G.O. Blake.

PROVENANCE

James S. Copley (bookplates, his sale, Sotheby's New Yo♍rk, 17 June 2010, lot 4🔴34)