A beautiful early 20th-century edition of Lyrics of Lowly Life by Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the most important American poets of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally published in 1896, this landmark collection helped establish Dunbar’s national literary reputation and features an introduction by noted author and critic William Dean Howells.
Published by Dodd, Mead and Company in New York in 1912, this hardcover edition features an olive-green cloth binding with an ornate gilt Art Nouveau-style design and lettering to the front cover and spine. Includes a portrait frontispiece of Dunbar with facsimile signature. The collection contains nearly 200 pages of poetry, including works such as “Frederick Douglass,” “Ode to Ethiopia,” “We Wear the Mask,” “When Malindy Sings,” and many others.
Condition: Antique hardcover in acceptable to good condition for its age. Exterior shows noticeable shelf wear, rubbing, discoloration, and fraying/chipping to the cloth at the head and foot of the spine, with additional wear at the corners and edges. Gilt decoration remains attractive and readily visible. Pages exhibit age toning with scattered spotting/staining and other signs of handling. Binding shows age and wear but remains intact. Please review all photographs closely for condition.
A striking 1912 edition of an important collection by Dayton-born poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, particularly appealing to collectors of African American literature, American poetry, Ohio/Dayton history, and decorative antiquarian books.