a gift from Herman to his brother-in-law

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.

Octavo. (Preliminary leaves before title lacking, title page and preface detached.) Quarter cloth over blue paper boards (worn, front board detaching). Custom clamshell box. Provenance: John C. Hoadley – Agnes Morewood (Sealts citation).

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.