CARLYLE, THOMAS. Autograph letter signed ("T. Carlyle") to the publisher [John Chapman], Chelsea, 7 November 1844, 2 1/2 pages, 8vo, folded over near right edges, inch tear in blank margin of integral second leaf, newsclippings about Carlyle pasted to blank verso of second leaf, tipped into a copy of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, a Novel [Translated from the German by Thomas Carlyle], Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1824, 3 vols., 8vo, brown morocco, spines gilt-lettered, t.e.g., half-titles wanting, FIRST EDITION in English and essentially Carlyle's first literary book, Dyer, pp. 261-264, a fine literary letter, nearly all regarding a proposed new edition of Carlyle's The Life of Friedrich Schiller (first published by Taylor and Hessey in 1825): "I have to thank you for the Book of Essays [Emerson's Essays: Second Series, issued by Chapman late in 1844?], which arrived last night. It is a very respectable volume, and I hope will sell copiously. The Life of Schiller is gone quite out of sight; and, I believe, turns up but rarely now in the Old-Book shops...It struck me at the time [about a year previously when a "Reprinter" wanted to re-issue it] that the Book, entirely without character, significance or worth in my eyes, ought to be, -- if reprinted at all, -- correctly reprinted; and a Bookseller was accordingly instructed to take an opportunity of asking the First Publishers [Taylor and Hessey], in some cursory way, whether they would oppose such a step?...I will inquire of this Bookseller what he had done. It is with him, of course, that I am bound to deal, if there be any dealing..." (John Chapman & Hall did publish the second edition of the book the following year); The Life of Friedrich Schiller: Comprehending an Examination of His Works. Second Edition, London: Chapman & Hall, 1845, 8vo, contemporary brown calf, morocco spine labels, marbled edges, spine faded and a little rubbed, with a new preface by Carlyle, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by him on front flyleaf: "To Miss Wilson, With many kind regards. T.C., 12 July, 1845," with a November 1872 presentation inscription possibly by Miss Wilson, frontispiece portrait, half-title, Dyer, p. 245; Sartor Resartus...Third Edition, London: Chapman and Hall, 1849, 8vo, original dark green cloth, inner hinges cracked, dark green morocco pull-off case (defective), PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by Carlyle to a member of his circle on front flyleaf: "[Lady] H.M. Ashburton 25 Decr. 1848," small circular stamp of "Melchet Court Romsey" on front free endpaper, Dyer, p. 225. (6)

Details

CARLYLE, THOMAS. Autograph letter signed ("T. Carlyle") to the publisher [John Chapman], Chelsea, 7 November 1844, 2 1/2 pages, 8vo, folded over near right edges, inch tear in blank margin of integral second leaf, newsclippings about Carlyle pasted to blank verso of second leaf, tipped into a copy of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, a Novel [Translated from the German by Thomas Carlyle], Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1824, 3 vols., 8vo, brown morocco, spines gilt-lettered, t.e.g., half-titles wanting, FIRST EDITION in English and essentially Carlyle's first literary book, Dyer, pp. 261-264, a fine literary letter, nearly all regarding a proposed new edition of Carlyle's The Life of Friedrich Schiller (first published by Taylor and Hessey in 1825): "I have to thank you for the Book of Essays [Emerson's Essays: Second Series, issued by Chapman late in 1844?], which arrived last night. It is a very respectable volume, and I hope will sell copiously. The Life of Schiller is gone quite out of sight; and, I believe, turns up but rarely now in the Old-Book shops...It struck me at the time [about a year previously when a "Reprinter" wanted to re-issue it] that the Book, entirely without character, significance or worth in my eyes, ought to be, -- if reprinted at all, -- correctly reprinted; and a Bookseller was accordingly instructed to take an opportunity of asking the First Publishers [Taylor and Hessey], in some cursory way, whether they would oppose such a step?...I will inquire of this Bookseller what he had done. It is with him, of course, that I am bound to deal, if there be any dealing..." (John Chapman & Hall did publish the second edition of the book the following year); The Life of Friedrich Schiller: Comprehending an Examination of His Works. Second Edition, London: Chapman & Hall, 1845, 8vo, contemporary brown calf, morocco spine labels, marbled edges, spine faded and a little rubbed, with a new preface by Carlyle, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by him on front flyleaf: "To Miss Wilson, With many kind regards. T.C., 12 July, 1845," with a November 1872 presentation inscription possibly by Miss Wilson, frontispiece portrait, half-title, Dyer, p. 245; Sartor Resartus...Third Edition, London: Chapman and Hall, 1849, 8vo, original dark green cloth, inner hinges cracked, dark green morocco pull-off case (defective), PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by Carlyle to a member of his circle on front flyleaf: "[Lady] H.M. Ashburton 25 Decr. 1848," small circular stamp of "Melchet Court Romsey" on front free endpaper, Dyer, p. 225. (6)