John-a-Dreams -

New York: Robert Sloss Vol. 1, No. 1 (July 1896) to Vol. 2, No. 6 (June 1897), consisting of 9 out of 11 issues published (lacking vol. 1, nos. 4 and 5 [October/November and December 1896]). Octavos. All issues near fine, each featuring a repeating cover illustration of a dreaming man printed in red and black by John Sloan. Included with the set is the ultra-rare prospectus illustrated by Sloan and Tarkington from October 1895. John-a-Dreams is one of the most elusive and most sought-after of the little magazines of the 1890s. We cannot explain its elusiveness, but it is sought after because of the rare John Sloan cover illustration and because the issues are replete with contributions by the then-unknown Booth Tarkington. Tarkington was connected to the magazine because he was a friend and former Princeton classmate of the editor and publisher Robert Sloss. He contributed poetry to the monthly under the nom-de-plume "Cecil Woodford" and art under his own name. Like nearly all of the little magazines, John-a-Dreams struggled to survive. That it made it to its first anniversary is a tribute to the perseverance of Sloss. Tarkington said about John-a-Dreams "The death of that little magazine, on the staff of which I was supposed to be, was the greatest blow I ever sustained." A great file of a lovely product of the 1890s chapbook movement.. Original Wrappers. Near Fine. Illus. by John Sloan. Octavos.