Exquisitely Bound in Full Crushed Morocco with Inlays
The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson
In a Fine Printing Executed in London in 1908
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. THE ESSAYS OF EMERSON (London: Arthur L. Humphreys, 1908) First edition thus of this fine printing. 8vo, exquisitely bound by Morrell and signed, in a full decorated binding of olive green crushed morocco, the spine with raised bands gilt stopped, the compartments with dignified panel designs enclosed by gilt fillet lines, lettered in gilt in one compartment, the upper and lower covers with very handsome gilt-work, the borders with double gilt fillet rules enclosing elaborate arabesque styled overall gilt decorations incorporating red morocco inlays at the quadrants, all interlinked by fine gilt tooled line-work, the center of the upper cover with an elaborate and large red morocco inlay in arabesque style, over-tooled in gilt in arabesque design, turnovers tilt ruled and with gilt corner decorations and red morocco inlays, t.e.g. v, 303. A very fine copy, the spine very lightly mellowed to honey as would be typical with the colour of the morocco.
ONE OF EMERSON’S MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS IN A BEAUTIFUL DESIGNED BINDING BY MORRELL. The essays printed here include “Self-Reliance”, “Love”, “Friendship”, “Intellect”, “Character” and others. Emerson was a minister, poet, essayist, naturalist, and philosopher of the Transcendentalist school of which James Freeman Clarke, Margaret Fuller, Henry David Thoreau, and Bronson Alcott were also members. In a real sense, Emerson founded the school with the publication of his famous book NATURE in 1837, and he believed strongly that reform had to spring from individual hearts and minds, and this philosophy of individualism combined with Emerson's eloquence and love of nature helped to make him a huge influence in the history of American thought.
In the 1960’s the movement was rediscovered and has remained an important factor in American life ever since, influencing the back to the earth ideologies, the environmental movements and modern day politics in the United States.
Emerson lived in Concord, Massachusetts alongside the other famous inhabitants of the town. Henry David Thoreau was a close friend of both he and Mrs. Emerson. These elegant essays are the original collection as published, of his philosophical pieces, and include some of his most famous writings---including “Self-Reliance” and “The Over-Soul.” |
