HELEN'S BABIES.
Boston: Loring, Publisher, [1876]. First Edition, later (hardbound) printing. There is a signature of John Habberton on the title page but I do not think it is his. With another ink presentation on a front blank page: “Fay Sawdy, Hamilton, New York. To Miss Hattie Keith, Brookfield, New York. March 8, 1877.” Fay Sawdy is probably the woman who ran the Sawdy House in Hamilton, NY. A previous hotel was burned during Hamilton’s Great Fire of 1895. It was rebuilt with Ms. Sawdy operating it and renaming it. I have no information of Ms. Keith. A newspaper obituary on Habberton is tipped to the page opposite the title age, with a straight pin through the page- for what purpose I don’t know, perhaps something was attached? The first hardcover edition of the author's anonymously-published bestseller. According to Jacob Blanck in “Peter Parley to Penrod,” the first printing appeared only in wrappers and that he had not seen any hardbound copy that is a first printing. 12mo., green cloth, stamped in black & gilt;206 pages with six pages of ads. Item #57072
Very Good (covers very bright, both interior hinges cracked but still tight- repaired).
Price: $85.00