Poems of the Late Francis Scott Key, Esq.
New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1857. First Edition. Hardcover. 12mo. Very Good. Item #12950
Spectacular 1st Edition copy of Key's poems, including the 'Star Spangled Banner', with a tipped in letter signed by Francis Scott Key.
1857 1st Edition, as noted by both BAL and Howard, though NYPL holds a copy with an 1856 hand-written inscription.
Likely the work was printed in late 1856 with an 1857 publication date. Tipped in at the front is a letter from Key, signed by Key, and addressed to the Literary Society of an Allegheny, Pennsylvania College, unfortunately undeterminable.
Introduction by Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, fellow Marylander and infamous for writing the opinion the Dred Scott Decision by the Court, widely regarded as its most costly mishap.
Key's handwritten letter, with a date of March 3, 1841, is folded and tipped in to the first prelim, with very slight separations at crease intersections.
Brown cloth. Square Tight Binding.Clean interior, save for pencil notations to the front pastedown. Yellow endpapers. Mild edge wear to binding.
Appears to have been professionally rebacked at a very early stage, not noticeable at the hinges, which appear to be contemporary. Slipcase included.
A superior edition of an extremely scarce work, made more so by the Key manuscript letter and signature.
BAL 11093, Howard B39.
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