“THE POET OF CHILDHOOD”

FIELD, Eugene. The Writings in Prose and Verse. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1896-1901. Twelve volumes. Small octavo, original publisher's half vellum and gray boards, paper spine labels, top edges gilt, uncut. Each volume housed in custom cloth chemise and half-morocco slipcase. $2000.

Autograph edition of Field’s prose and verse works, number 41 of only 100 sets produced with autograph letter signed tipped into Volume I.

This is the first collected edition of Field's works, published just one year after his death. Each volume with mounted frontispiece portrait or illustration, the whole finely printed on Japan paper. In addition to his popular verses for children, Field (1850-95) is best known for his satirical newspaper column in the Chicago Morning News entitled "Sharps and Flats," and for his lullaby "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod." He was an avid book-collector, and this set includes his unfinished fictional autobiography, "The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac," with a foldout facsimile of a page of Field's fair copy. Bookplates.

Volume I with minor split along exterior joint of original vellum spine. A fine set in extraordinary condition with autograph letter in Field's hand. Each volume in a handsome half-morocco slipcase.