Christie's is pleased to announce its upcoming auction, The Bruce M. Lisman Collection of Important American Literature: Part Two, taking place online from 2-16 June. Part Two chronicles the story of American literature beginning in the 18th century and Federal Period—the first fruits of American cultural life. These books are individually very rare, and especially so as a sizable offering to come on the market at once. Part Two is especially strong in women authors of the 18th and early 19th century: they include Ann Eliza Bleecker, Susanna Rowson, Hannah Foster, Catharine Sedgwick, Lydia Maria Child, Leonora Sansay, and others. Further highlights include a volume of America's earliest anthems; the first known play to be written, printed and performed in what would become the United States, as well as other early works of American drama; the first American spy novel; the first anthology of American poetry; and more. Part Two runs through the 19th century, with works by John Neal, Charles Brockden Brown, William Cullen Bryant, Ralph Waldo Emerson (including a rare pair of presentation copies of his Essays), James Russell Lowell, Henry David Thoreau, John Greenleaf Whittier, Emily Dickinson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and more Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Hawthorne section includes books from his library (such as his copy of Inscriptions from Burying-Grounds in Salem, Massachusetts), a fine selection of first printings in important magazines of the period (including a rare run of The New-England Magazine in original wrappers), important autograph letters, and more.

Highlights will be on view at Christie's New York from 20–24 May, coinciding with Old Master Week.