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230 pp. Edited "by two of her Friends" T[homas] W[entworth] Higginson and Mabel Lommis Todd. Preface by Mabel Todd. With 4 pages of facsimile "Reunciation" by Dickinson; title page with tissue-guard. 6¾x4½, publisher's bevelled gilt-decorated gray cloth, lettered in gilt, top edge gilt. First Edition, First printing.

One of only 960 copies produced for this first print run. Dickinson's second book, in a series of three posthumously published collections. It wasn't until the early twentieth century when Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was truly appreciated as one of the greatest American poets. By the time of her death, no more than seven of her 1776 poems had been published. She briefly toyed with the idea of having her poems published, asking literary critic and friend, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, for advice. But after Higginson tried to "improve" her poems, adapting them to the more popular style of the time, Dickinson quickly lost interest in the project. After her death, Higginson was finally allowed to publish and share the great writings of this literary giant. Old white silk-ribbon bookmark, separated into two parts, laid in. Gift inscription "May B. Squire 'My Little Nurse' Xmas 1891" on the front free endpaper. BAL 4656.