Description:

Willis Nathaniel

Pair is comprised of ALS inscribed overall and signed by American author Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806-1867), along with E. Anthony published Mathew Brady Studio carte de visite depicting Willis in tight-fitting frock coat.

1pp ALS on unmarked cream paper inscribed overall in dark and rapid script, signed “N.P. Willis” in bottom right corner. In very good condition. Expected horizontal paper fold along with sharp vertical crease to right paper edge. Professionally repaired in four areas, one affecting the “is” of Willis’s signature. The 8.75” x 9.375” letter is tipped into a larger cream-colored sheet with minor chipped corner measuring 7.375” x 10.75”. This undated letter is addressed to an unknown recipient named “Lyman”, who was probably a business associate. The full text can be found below:

“1 o’clock

Dear Lyman,

I have been hunting all the morning for a business man to settle some important affairs, + I learn he is at Rockaway. I must see him before tomorrow + am forced to take an Early de? + be off leaving your agreeable invitation unin—ed?. This touches me dearly but I am here only to settle this business + tomorrow is doomsday.

Excuse my trenchant fashion of receiving kindness + believe me

Yours faithfully

W. Phillips”.

Also comes with a sepia-toned carte de visite of Willis, published by Edward Anthony after a photographic negative from Mathew Brady’s National Portrait Gallery. The oblong albumen print photo shows Willis in characteristically stylish dress. Labeled "Brady, N.Y." recto and “Published by E. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York. From Photographic Negative from Brady’s National Portrait Gallery” verso. Also pencil inscribed “N.P. Willis” verso. In near fine condition, measuring 2.5" x 4".

Nathaniel Parker Willis was an extremely popular mid-nineteenth-century poet, travel writer, and newspaper contributor known for his flamboyant personality and exacting dress. The Yale University graduate was called "the lion of the town" by friend and American portrait painter Chester Harding (1796-1866). Willis could afford his impeccable wardrobe because he was the highest paid magazine writer in American by the early 1840s, even surpassing the earnings of  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882).

Mathew Brady (1822-1896) dominated antebellum and Civil War-era American photography. He became even more well-known after the exhibition of his moving and gruesome battlefield photographs. Brady collaborated with another New York-based photographer, Edward Anthony (1819-1888). In addition to providing photography services, Anthony’s firm sold camera supplies, backdrops, and props to the public.

Provenance: This item was recently discovered in an extra illustrated volume of “History of the City of New York” by Mary L. Booth, New York, W. R. C. Clark, 1867. The monumental task of expanding the original two volumes to twenty-one volumes was given to Emery E. Childs, Esq. of New York City. A lovely india ink drawing of Mary L. Booth labeled “presented by her to E.E.C.” in pencil appears in the first volume of this work. Next to the title page we find an original letter of Booth to Childs dated April 4, 1872: “I am in receipt of your favor of the 4th inst., and am grateful to hear that you are taking the trouble to illustrate my History of the City of New York in the manner you describe. I shall be happy to see you, should you favor me with a call as I am usually in my office during business hours and should be pleased to facilitate your Enterprise by any means in my power”.

 

It is assumed that the book took several years to assemble, at which point, presumably through Childs, it made its way to Senator Charles B. Farwell of Chicago (who took the seat of John A. Logan in 1887). Farwell had an extensive library in his Lakeside home that survived the great Chicago fire in 1871. In the American Bibliopolist of November 1871, there is an article about the devastation to libraries caused by the tragedy: “Mr. C. B. Farwell’s library is also fortunately far out from the city, at his country house, and is safe. The same remark will also apply to the extensive collection of books and curiosities belonging to Mr. E. E. Childs.” This establishes the Chicago connection between Childs and Farwell.

 

These items were preserved for over 140 years and have never been on the market. The mostly pristine state of preservation of the items is due from their being wedged in these volumes.

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