PBA Galleries

3 large leaves bound in black paper folder, with contents mounted to leaves within, including: Photograph portrait of James Whitcomb Riley with facsimile autograph, on verso is a small card with a gift inscription from "Mal & Dre"; 3 page autograph manuscript poem titled Little Johnts's Chrismus, written in ink on plain white paper, measuring 19.8x12.7 cm. (7¾x5"); 1 page ALs on Riley's embossed letterhead. Addressed to Robert Underwood Johnson, Esq. and signed. Measures 19.2x12.3 cm. (7½x4¾"). Also mounted to the page is the envelope addressed in Riley's hand.

In the letter, Riley introduces one editor friend, Miss Anna Nicholas, to another editor friend, Robert Underwood Johnson, Esq. [of] The Century. The lovely 60-line poem is signed on last page by Riley, and includes his mailing address, as this copy of the poem was likely sent to his publisher. Provenance: Private Collection of Marcia G. Woods.