[EMERSON, Ralph Waldo (1803-1882).] Nature. Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1836.

Association copy of Emerson's first book, the seminal work of Transcendentalism. First edition, first state, with p.94 mispaginated as 92. Nature was a modest but lovely production, published anonymously and bound in variously colored and textured cloth. Herein are some of Emerson's most famous pronouncements, such as "But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and vulgar things” (p. 9).

This copy belonged to Caroline D. Brooks, since before her marriage in 1840. In a few years from the date of publication, she would become the wife of Ebenezer Hoar and the sister-in-law of Elizabeth Hoar. Elizabeth Hoar was the beloved "Aunt Lizzie" of the Emerson children, and they all lived nearby each other. Elizabeth was a prominent member of the Transcendentalist circle and, as well as being very close to Emerson, she helped him prepare copy for The Dial. In some copies of Nature there are two pencil corrections in the text on p.32, either in Emerson's hand or that of his editorial assistant, Charles S. Wheeler. In this copy they appear to be in Wheeler's hand. Of the myriad binding variations noted by Myerson (without priority), this copy is frame A and cloth 2. BAL 5181; Myerson A3.1.a.

12mo (187 x 118mm). (Some foxing.) Original green cloth embossed with coral-like branches and stamped with rectangular frame with leafy cornerpieces (minor rubbing, tips just showing, spine tanned); modern half morocco box. Provenance: Caroline Downes Brooks Hoar, 1820-1892 (ownership signature "Caroline D. Brooks" on front flyleaf).