William Cullen Bryant, 1809

BRYANT, William Cullen (1794-1878). The Embargo; or, Sketches of the Times. A Satire. Boston: for the author by E.G. House, 1809.

Groves copy of the first published collection of Bryant’s poems, including the second printing of “The Embargo”—in original wrappers, with a bibliographically important letter laid in. The title poem, written when Bryant was only 13, is a satire protesting Jefferson's 1807 Embargo Act. It had been published anonymously the previous year, and for good reason—it is particularly vitriolic against Jefferson himself, calling him a befuddled pseudo-scientist and coward, and mocking his sexual liaisons with his enslaved workers. A later autograph note included here confirms when the poem was written: "I completed a political satire when I was thirteen, entitled "The Embargo" which was printed full by itself in a little pamphlet." According to BAL, some copies are known in a printed self-wrapper. BAL 1583; Sabin 8815.

Octavo (186 x 113mm). 36pp. Contemporary slate-blue wrapper (backstrip perished with chips around the edges, some neat repairs); modern chemise and morocco pull-off box. Provenance: John Stuart Groves, 1881-1958 (morocco book label).

[With:] Autograph letter signed ("W.C. Bryant") to W.B. Redfield, 26 February 1855. One page, on blue paper.