Maryland, my Maryland and Other Poems
Baltimore, Md: John Murphy Co., 1908. 1st Edition. 8vo. Good+. Item #13236
A unique volume of Randall's poetry published shortly after his death in 1908, with the provenance and original watercolor art work of Katherine Walton, who was commissioned by The Maryland Legislature to complete an official portrait of Randall, author of the the state song, "Maryland, My Maryland".
Walton completed the portrait, which now resides in the Maryland State Art Collection at the State Archives in Annapolis.
This volumes features the signature of Walton on the front end paper, her personal bookplate on a front prelim as well as an original watercolor of the Maryland flag dated by her on June 17, 1908, laid down to the front pastedown.
Also glued in to the verso of the title page and recto of the following page is a mimeographed note from the Legislative commission authorizing Walton's portrait and signed by the commission members, including Randall family member, Mary Randall.
Blue cloth with gilt titling to front board and spine. Square tight binding, though upper two-inch of front inner joint reveals a visible portion of the hinge. Light dampstain affecting lower edge of book throughout.
Moderate edge wear to binding, more so at spine ends. Laid in are other portraits and news clippings of and about Randall, currently housed in a plexi holder but which at one time had been laid in directly, causing offsetting to pages 34 and 35.
Randall's poem was one of the prominent rally cries for the Confederacy and targets Abraham Lincoln, whom Randall refers to as the 'despot' and 'tyrant' for invading and occupying Maryland to ensure it remained allied with the Union, which he refers to as 'Northern scum'.
Randall wrote the poem just days after his friend was killed by troops of the 6th Massachusetts during the Baltimore Riot, the first blood shed during the Civil War.
A one-of-a-kind piece of Maryland Civil War history, and an indelible link to Maryland's Southern-sympathizing past.
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