MELVILLE, Herman (1819-1891). Autograph letter signed ("H Melville") to G.P. Putnam, Pittsfield, 16 August [1854].

One page, 190 x 123mm.

Melville sends another installment for his serial publication, Israel Potter. A hurried note to Putnam belatedly acknowledges receipt of Putnam's note, explaining he was in too much of a hurry "wishing to send you the M.S. for reply. No inconvenience, I hope, has resulted.” In a short postscript he notes the accompanying enclosures [not present]: "Herewith you have from p. 102 to p. 156 inclusive of I[srael].P[otter]." Not published in Horth, but another short note to Putnam is cited of the same day and month noting that a "parcel of M.S." was to be sent express the next day (p. 268). Because Melville did not specify the nature of the M.S. in question, Horth only added a tentative year to the note. The present letter would appear to settle the date of the published note to Putnam as 1854.