Books and Manuscripts

Collection of Inscribed Books and Letters from the First Prominent African American Poet

1. Lyrics of Lowly Life
New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1896. First edition. 12mo. xx, 208. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on front paste-down: "Georgine B. Kelly / compliments, / of the Author." With a frontispiece portrait of Dunbar. Publisher's green cloth-covered boards, decorated in gilt, boards unevenly darkened and soiled; top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed; dampstaining in upper gutter of all leaves; gutter cracked at p. VII; small chip in top corner of pp. VII-X; loss in top corner of rear free endpaper. BAL 4918; Metcalf, pp. 8-9; Blockson 5793

Presentation copy of Dunbar's first commercially published book—the work that helped him achieve national attention. Georgine B. Kelly (1874-1931) was the fourth daughter of George M. Kelly and Caroline Chambers. An elocutionist, Kelly was the principal of Colored Primary School No. 2 in Baltimore, and in 1899 married Dr. W.E. Harris.

2. Folks From Dixie
New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1898. First edition. 8vo. (x), 263 pp. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on front free endpaper, and with an autograph verse by him of the first stanza of his "After a Visit" (printed in Lyrics of Lowly Life): "Very Sincerely Yours, / Paul Laurence Dunbar. / I ben down in ol'Kentucky / F' ur a week er two an' say / Twas ez hard es breakin' oxen / Twas to tear myself away, / Allus angerin' 'bout frien'ship / An' your hospitality / Y'ain't no right to talk about it / Till you be'n down there to see! / To my good Friend / Dr. P.D. Robinson. / 4/18/'99". With illustrations. Publisher's red cloth-covered boards, pictorial cover label, decorated in black and in gilt, boards worn and soiled; top edge gilt, other edges trimmed; front hinge cracked; soiling to text leaves; rear hinge with old reinforcement. BAL 4921; Metcalf, p. 71; Blockson 5279

Presentation copy of Dunbar's first collection of short stories, with a very rare autograph stanza of his poetry. Dr. Perry D. Robinson, Sr. (1862-1940) was born in Pennsylvania and was a medical school graduate of Howard University. His prominent medical practice was in Lexington until he retired and moved to New York. His wife, Caroline V. Robinson, was sister to Georgine B. Kelly, the recipient of the above book and below letter.

3. Lyrics of the Hearthside
New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1899. First edition. 12mo. x, 227 pp. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on front free endpaper: "In memory of / the 18th of April / 1899 at Lexington. / Very Sincerely Yours, / Paul Laurence Dunbar. / To my friend, / Dr. P.D. Robinson." With a frontispiece portrait of Dunbar. Publisher's green cloth-covered boards, decorated in gilt, spine darkened; top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. BAL 4925; Metcalf, pp. 10-11; Blockson 5797

Presentation copy Dunbar's second commercially published collected work of poetry.

4. Autograph Letter, signed
Dayton, O(hio), Oct. 31st, 1896. four onionskin sheet, 8 x 5 in. (203 x 127 mm). Lengthy four-page autograph letter, signed by Dunbar (rectos only), to Georgine B. Kelly: "...I sit down to write to you with very mingled impulses. I do not want to say too much, nor do I want you to understand too little, and yet I want to tell you how deeply you have impressed me both as a womanly woman and as a careful and accurate artist. It is hard to say which is the most attractive in the personality of one of your profession, a delicate art or a delicate nature; but when, as in your case, the former is the out growth of the latter, there is but one thing to do to admire or perhaps to love. You would be amused to hear what my thoughts were after first hearing you that night...Over and over again, this sentence ran through my mind: 'how infinitely worth winning that girl is.'...I want to tell you how deeply concerned I am in your future welfare, how greatly I hope for the highest success for you...after all there is no higher destiny for woman than this intensely maternal one of being a good wife and mother. There have been George Sands, & Sara Bernhardts, but I do not remember that they had particularly cheerful homes, happy husbands, or noble sons..." With original holographic postal envelope; letter creased from when folded.

5. Typed Letter, signed
Washington, D.C., Nov. 14, 1901. One sheet, 10 3/8 x 7 7/8 in. (263 x 200 mm). One-page typed letter, signed by Dunbar to Dr. Perry D. Robinson: "...I think it is about time I was dropping you a line for fear these people up here might write you I am ill and you would not know just how much so. I was pretty sick after leaving Lexington, and have been so ever since. I must thank you for your kindness while I was there, but I must confess that I gave you little opportunoty (sic) to do anything. However, when I come again, I shall return to my old allegiance--your house--where I can be happy and a little more secluded. Mrs. Dunbar joins me in regards to you and Mrs. Robinson. I was in Baltimore last week to the wedding of Lilye Murphy and Noah Thompson of Chicago, but did not see Georgine. I saw Mrs. Wheeler, however, at the church...don't forget that fleur de lis pin of mine. If you do any longer, I shall be in the way of coming down to Lexington after you and the pin. Kiss the baby for me and pat that great boy of yours on the head.", and inscribed "Very Truly your friend, Paul Dunbar." With original postal envelope; letter creased from when folded.

6. Autograph Letter, signed
Dayton, O(hio)., Sept. 7th, 1905. Two sheets, 8 7/8 x 5 1/2 in. (225 x 140 mm). Two-page autograph letter, signed by Dunbar (on rectos only) to Dr. Robinson: "This is not to call you to time for not sending my enameled pin but to introduce you to my friend and chum Dr. Wm. I. Burns, who is coming down to the fair. He is only a 'babe in the woods' and I want you to look after him, and if he does dil-douse there, or some lady cuts him, please see that he is covered with leaves. He leaves here a wife and four children (?), but that need not be mentioned there as he is still young and wishes to have a good time. I am still as ill as ever, and as untruthful, but I intend to come through not later than fair time on my way to North Carolina where I am going to Scrugg's Sanitarium...Give my regards to the madame and to the boy, and remember that I shall still take tow of my scarf pin when I return..." With original holographic postal envelope; letter creased from when folded.

7. Typed Letter, signed
Dayton, O(hio)., Sept. 21st, 1905. One sheet, 13 x 8 in. (330 x 203 mm). One-page typed letter, signed by Dunbar to Dr. Robinson: "You really don't deserve a letter but I am really such a forgiving sort of a duck that I can't help writing you, especially since my friend, Dr. Burns, tells me that you offered to take him in any ways, a thing I don't at all believe. It was really a great sorrow to me that I could not come to Lexington during the fair. I wanted to be there very much and would have made almost any sacrifice to get back into the old blue grass country, but from the way you are sticking to that pin even if I would come down there I should have been in danger of coming away without my clothes...I hate the way you use the words 'you know' because I do not know that you had a third child. I congratulate you very much and hope to see him, or her, when I come through, if I am able to do so...As to my going there and not coming to see you, you are greatly mistaken for I have not been in Lexington now for over four years', and if you will remember I took breakfast at your house with the charming little lame girl from Philadelphia, so don't get your dates mixed..." With original holographic postal envelope; letter creased from when folded.

A rare collection of three inscribed books and four very personally signed letters from African American poet, novelist, and short story writer, Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), one of the most famous African American writers of the period and the first to achieve national acclaim. Despite his early death at age 33 from tuberculosis, Dunbar was a prolific writer, and is remembered for his dialect verse and representation of Black life at the turn of the century.

Due to his short publishing career and early death, books signed or inscribed by Dunbar are scarce, while his letters are very rare. Both are uncommon to market.