"SINCERELY YOUR FRIEND JOHN BURROUGHS": INSCRIBED LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY

BURROUGHS, John. Locusts and Wild Honey. Boston: Houghton, Osgood, 1879. Small octavo, original mauve cloth. $1250.

First edition of Burroughs' third book of essays, inscribed "Sincerely your friend John Burroughs" and additionally signed by Burroughs at the end of the preface.

"Burroughs's third book of nature essays, published in 1879, was titled Locusts and Wild Honey. In his preface, Burroughs hinted that the title of the book was an allegory. Burroughs's allusion was to another John, John the Baptist, "the voice crying in the wilderness" who "fed on locusts and wild honey." The modern prophet Burroughs proselytized for an new church of the woodlands. The new and most necessary baptism was a baptism in nature. Amid the trees, by forest streams, he believed one could find a cure for the vanity and vexation of spirit that the growing American Industrial colossus doled out in such generous proportions" (Renehan, John Burroughs: An American Naturalist, 6). With title-page in black and red as called for. In Bal binding A. BAL 2142.

Interior fine, original cloth very good with rubbing to spine and rear boards, gilt bright.