Lot 355

Ralph W. Emerson 1st London Ed. Presentation Copy Addressed to His Friend, Ada Lovelace's Husband!

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Ralph W. Emerson 1st London Ed. Presentation Copy Addressed to His Friend, Ada Lovelace's Husband!

Estimate: $5,000 - $6,000

Current Bid: $1,600

(2 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Ralph Waldo Emerson
[London, England], n.d. but ca. 1850
Ralph W. Emerson 1st London Ed. Presentation Copy Addressed to His Friend, Ada Lovelace's Husband!
First Edition Book

A First London Edition of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), "Representative Men. Seven Lectures," from "The Catholic Series" (London: John Chapman, 142, Strand, MDCCL [1850]), being a presentation copy which the author earmarked for William King, 1st Earl of Lovelace (1805-1893). N.d. but ca. 1850. [London, England.] A presentation copy from Emerson, although the inscription on the first front loose endpaper, "Right Honble / Earl of Lovelace / With the Author's Compliments," was almost certainly executed by Emerson's publisher John Chapman, or in the hand of one of his assistants. Provenance: William King, 1st Earl of Lovelace; Whitwell Hatch. BAL 5219.

With original plum cloth covers featuring blind-embossed foliate designs on the covers (Myerson's binding A) and a gilt-embossed spine. At least four ex-libris blind-embossed stamps can be found in the volume, one on the inscription page, and one each on pg. 95, 97, and 99; the stamp belonged to "Whitwell Hatch / Haslemere / Phone 696 / Surrey." Moderate fading to the edges of the covers, with a sunned spine. Scattered foxing within the pages but mostly clean. A former collector's inscription can be found on the front pastedown endpaper. Else very good. 1-215pp; plus an additional 1-24pp being an extensive John Chapman advertisement for New and Recent Works. The book measures 5.125" x 8" x .75." Housed in a handsome rust-colored linen and silk clamshell case measuring 5.75" x 9" x 1.5."

The volume represented a published collection of seven lectures which Emerson had delivered during his 10-month-long second trip to Great Britain, from late 1847 through July 1848. Each of the chapters is dedicated to an historical or contemporary figure who Emerson characterized as great men: Plato; Emanuel Swedenborg; Michel de Montaigne; William Shakespeare; Napoleon Bonaparte; and Johann von Goethe.

Emerson had received an invitation from Mechanics' Institutes in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Scotland to give readings in a format similar to that of the author's beloved New England Lyceums. While in the United Kingdom, Emerson met with many well-known writers, reformers, scientists, mathematicians, and other intellectuals, including the recipient of this volume, William King, 1st Earl of Lovelace, and his wife, Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (1815-1852). Ada, the legitimate child of Lord Byon and Anne Milbanke, was a brilliant mathematician heralded by many as being the first-ever computer programmer, thanks to her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine.

Lovelace and Emerson met frequently in London, especially at Emerson's publisher's house, where Emerson boarded. Lovelace was present at multiple of Emerson's "Representative Men" lectures. Emerson's journal confirms that he personally requested that this copy of "Representative Men" be given to Lovelace. In his entry for November 17, 1849, Emerson wrote: "I sent to Chapman orders to send copies of Representative Men to… Earl of Lovelace…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: clamshell case: 5.75" x 9" x 1.5"
  • Medium: First Edition Book

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000