[MELVILLE, Herman (1819-1891)] – Group of three books gifted by Melville, two to his sister Fanny and one to his brother-in-law John Hoadley, from 1870-1876.

Presents from Herman Melville. Melville loved books as objects and frequently gave them to family members as Christmas or other gifts. The inscriptions themselves are probably in the hand of his wife. Comprises:

1. BURNS, Robert (1759-1796). Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. Newport, RI: John Brown & Co, 1870.
A gift from Herman to his brother-in-law: the poems of Robert Burns. Inscribed on the front endpaper: “Presented by Herman Melville to J.C. Hoadley Sept 1870.” The American edition of the facsimile reprint of the Kilmarnock edition of 1786. Sealts 100. Provenance: John C. Hoadley – Agnes Morewood (Sealts citation).

2. TENNYSON, Alfred (1809-1892). The May Queen. London: Sampson Low, Son, & Marston, 1868.
Fanny Melville’s copy, a gift from her brother Herman. Inscribed facing the title page: “Fanny Melville Monday after Easter 1876 N.Y.” Sealts 507. Provenance: Fanny Melville (inscription) – Miss Murray (inscription, dated July 1886, Gansevoort) – Parke Bernet, 21 & 22 November 1944, lot 493.

3. BLOOMFIELD, Robert (1766-1823). The Farmer’s Boy. London: Sampson Low, Son & Co. 1858.
Fanny Melville’s copy, a gift from her brother Herman. Inscribed: “Fanny Melville from Herman Xmas 1876.” Sealts 70.
Provenance: Fanny Melville (inscription) – Miss Craig (inscription, dated July 1886, Gansevoort) – Parke-Bernet, 21 & 22 November 1944, lot 493.

Together, three volumes, octavo. Original bindings, the gifts for Fanny in publisher's gift bindings. (Burns with front cover coming loose, front endleaf detached, first several leaves working loose.) Custom box to first volume.

Exhibited: "A Herman Melville Collection ... on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death, from the collection of William S. Reese," Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, 1991, no. 35 and 36.