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Astraea: The Balance of Illusions; A Poem Delivered Before The Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850
by Holmes, Oliver Wendell
- Used
- near fine
- first
- Condition
- Near fine
- Seller
-
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1850. First Edition, First Printing. Glossy pictorial cover. Near fine. First edition, first printing of Astraea: The Balance of Illusions, A Poem Delivered Before The Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850 by Oliver Wendell Holmes.. Small octavo, 39pp. Publisher's original glossy boards, title printed in black on front cover. BAL binding "A" with yellow endpapers and flyleaves. Solid text block, light rubbing to corners, faint soiling to boards. A near fine example. This is State B of the first printing, with an ampersand of the printer's imprint set above the type line, and signature mark "3" listed below the "ag" of the word "fragment" on page 33. (BAL 8757) Housed in a custom half-morocco slipcase with matching cloth chemise, title in gilt on spine. "Astraea" is a poem that reflects on the changing times and Oliver Wendell Holmes' nostalgia for the past. He uses the figure of Astraea, a Greek goddess of justice, to symbolize a bygone era of innocence and purity. The poem explores themes of loss and the contrast between the idealized past and the complex realities of the present. Holmes yearns for a return to a more idyllic time, suggesting that Astraea has left the earth, leaving behind a world that has lost its moral compass.
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Details
- Bookseller
- The First Edition Rare Books, LLC
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 15087
- Title
- Astraea: The Balance of Illusions; A Poem Delivered Before The Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850
- Author
- Holmes, Oliver Wendell
- Illustrator
- First edition, first printing of Astraea: The Balance of Illusions, A Poem Delivered Before The Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale C
- Format/Binding
- Glossy pictorial cover
- Book Condition
- Used - Near fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition, First Printing
- Publisher
- Ticknor and Fields
- Place of Publication
- Boston
- Date Published
- 1850
- Keywords
- first edition Oliver Wendell Holmes, autocrat breakfast table, signed book Oliver Wendell Holmes, one hundred days in Europe, soundings from the Atlantic, man of destiny lippmann, professor at breakfast table
Terms of Sale
The First Edition Rare Books, LLC
- Items are guaranteed as described on the company website.
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- Items lost or damaged during shipping will be refunded by the shipper.
- Please notify us before returning merchandise by email or phone.
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- Deferred billing available upon request.
About the Seller
The First Edition Rare Books, LLC
Biblio member since 2017
Cincinnati, Ohio
About The First Edition Rare Books, LLC
The First Edition offers collectors the finest assortment of rare and notable books from around the world.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- BAL
- Bibliography of American Literature (commonly abbreviated as BAL in descriptions) is the quintessential reference work for any...
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Text Block
- Most simply the inside pages of a book. More precisely, the block of paper formed by the cut and stacked pages of a book....
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
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