EMERSON, Ralph Waldo (1803-1882). Essays. Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1841. [And:] Essays: Second Series. Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1844.

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds"

Rare pair of author's presentation copies of the defining works of 19th-century American intellectual culture—first editions of both series of Emerson's Essays, one a family copy. The First Series is inscribed to Emerson's cousin Thomas Haskins ("Thomas W. Haskins from his affectionate cousin R.W. Emerson Apr. 1841") and the second to New England printer Joseph T. Buckingham ("Joseph T. Buckingham with Authors Respects"). The most important works of the leader of the American Transcendentalist movement, "these essays are as readable, and to a considerable extent as much read, as a hundred years ago. Their ethical inspiration and stimulation, their occasional startling phrase, their individualistic idealism, which stirred renascent Yankee New England to its depths, speaks with the same simple power and force in the midst of modern complexities" (Grolier). A rare opportunity to acquire presentation copies of both series; this is the first pair of presentations ever to be offered at auction. BAL 5189; Meyerson A 10.1a; BAL 5198; Meyerson A 16.1a-b; Grolier American 47.

Two volumes, octavo (180 x 110mm and 178 x 105mm). I: half title (interior foxing). Publisher's brown cloth with yellow-coated endpapers [BAL binding C] (stained, joints splitting). Custom chemise and slipcase. II: 2 pp. ads at end (interior foxing). Publisher's brown cloth with yellow-coated endpapers [BAL binding A] (rebacked preserving most of original spine panel, a few other chips to boards). Custom box. Provenance: I) Thomas Waldo Haskins, 1801-1880 (presentation inscription from Emerson) – George J. Haskins (inscription dated 1855) – Duncan Cranford (Doyle's, 30 September 2020, lot 151); II: Joseph T. Buckingham, 1779-1861 (presentation inscription) – Margaret S. Ball (inscription dated 1953) – Sotheby's New York, 4 June 2013, lot 56.