Field, Eugene. (1850 - 1895)
Archive of Autograph Poems and Documents, including an unpublished manuscript fable
Fascinating archive of lesser-known poems, proofs, and other documents by the beloved American poet, humor writer and journalist, the "poet of childhood" best known for his light-hearted poems for children, among the most famous of which are "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," "The Duel" and "Little Boy Blue." The present archive consisting primarily of holograph manuscripts in his precise and minuscule hand, many with beautiful small illuminated initials and ink drawings. Besides the unpublished fable Yuytot, many of the poems are on one of Field's favorite themes, bibliomania -- a malady of which he made no secret. Field's passion for book collecting comes through in several poems about bibliophiles (and their long-suffering wives), his Latin and English epitaph for a fellow collector, and in two numbers of his long-running "Sharps and Flats" column in the Chicago Daily News. Many of the documents date from shortly before Field's untimely death at age 45 in 1895.1. Autograph manuscript of Dr. Rabelais, a humorous poem in 9 stanzas, with colored borders and initials, a title page, and an ink drawing at the head. The poem tells of a trick the author played on his young wife: when she wanted to buy a "doctor's book" for their children's illnesses, he sent her to buy the works of the 16th-century satirist Dr. François Rabelais instead, which shocked her with their bawdy humor. The poem was written in 1894 and first published in The Book-Lover's Almanac for the Year 1895 (New York, Duprat & co, 1894). Signed and dated at the foot, Chicago, Sept. 19, 1894. Beneath his signature, Field has noted (perhaps with tongue in cheek): "This copy is made for Mr. Duferat. As Mr. Way is very likely to want to keep it, I take the precaution to express the wish that he deliver it to the gentleman for whom it is intended. E.F." Mr. Way is probably W. Irving Way, Field's friend, fellow book collector, bookbinder and publisher of at least one volume for Field. On 6 leaves. Very slight toning; otherwise in very fine condition. 20.1 x 25.3 cm.
2. Frontispiece drawing in ink for Dr. Rabelais, of a book, inkwell and decorative ribbons, bearing the note: "To be reduced to 1/3 - 2 in x 3/4 in." Slightly smudged at the bottom with three tack holes at the upper edge; otherwise in very good condition. Mounted on a stiff card. 23.6 x 13.4 cm.
3. Autograph manuscript of a humorous macaronic poem in Latin and English, written on a headstone in faux-medieval lettering with colored initials, with the title, "Brist; Epit; in imitatione Skeltonis - circa 1530." The poem is a humorous epitaph for Bishop Frank Bristol, in a style imitating the 15th-16th century English poet John Skelton; Field signs as "Eugenius Ager," a Latin translation of his name. Bristol appears to have been a friend of Field's and to have bequeathed him his library. The poem reads:
Under this stone (let none deface it!)
Sanctissimus vir in pacem jacet;
Bibliothecam habens, moriens donavit
To unum Agrem quum amavit;
"Memine, Ager," ipse dixit,
"If my epitaph's writ, be sure you fix it;
And say to the dampned and the fiends that rule 'em
That diabolus osculet mei culum!
Explicit."
A slightly different, perhaps earlier version of the epitaph, dated 1888, appears in the sale catalog for the library of Frank Maier in 1909 (New York: Anderson Auction Company.) Folding creases and slight toning; otherwise in fine condition. 20.3 x 25.3 cm.
4. Autograph manuscripts of two short children's poems of one stanza for a child named Posie, with colored ink illustrations and initials by Field. With the first lines, "A wonderful dog has Posie got," and "Here is a terrible rainy day." On two leaves. Slight toning and creases; otherwise in fine condition. 12.7 x 20.4 cm.
5. Autograph manuscripts of two poems dedicated to friends of the Field family and originally written in presentation copies of Field's Echoes of the Sabine Farm. The first is dedicated to a Mr. Higinbotham "on his return from Europe (Feb., 1892.)" and begins: "Pompey, 'tis Fortune gives you back." The second is dedicated to the Hon. W. R. Nelson, propietor of the Kansas City Star, and begins: "Dear Nelson, once you shared with me the hardships of a toilsome lot." Field has signed and noted at the foot: "When I was in Kansas City, Nelson was poor, and struggling along against great odds. We were fast friends. This was in 1880-1881. Now Nelson is very rich. Better get Nelson's permission to use this." On two leaves. Folding creases and very slight toning; otherwise in very fine condition. 20.4 x 25.3 cm.
6. Autograph manuscript of Yuytot, a poem in 24 stanzas, dated August 28, 1889. Written in Field's beautiful hand, with initials, title page, and title in red and gold. With changes and an additional stanza inserted in Field's hand, dated September 21, 1889. The poem, in a ballad style, tells the story of a king's son who marries the daughter of a sea god. Signed at the foot. On seven leaves; slight toning, especially on the title page; otherwise in very fine condition. 20.4 x 25.3 cm.
7. Printer's proof facsimile autograph manuscript copy of one of Field's "Sharps and Flats" columns for the Chicago Daily News, ca. 1892. The topic is a discussion of the recently deceased Tennyson and his characteristics as a poet. With editorial marks in pencil. Four leaves, the last cut short, are covered in Field's neat hand, with typographical notes and colored initials. Another hand has made printer's notes in pencil. Folding creases and some inky fingerprints; otherwise in good condition and very legible. 20.4 x 25.5 cm; last sheet 20.4 x 10.9 cm.
8. Signed hand-colored print of Dibdin's Ghost, a humorous poem in eight stanzas about book collectors and their wives. Signed by Field and labeled copy no. 2 of 25 in another hand. With a decorative border of flowers, which has been colored by hand on the first page. The title refers to the English bibliographer Thomas Frognall Diblin, author of Bibliomania, Or Book-Madness, a Bibliographical Romance (1809). 3 pp. on a bifolium with deckle edges; in very fine condition. 12.5 x 17.5 cm.
9. Signed program from Field's speaking engagement at the Pen and Pencil Club, December 6, 1892. Field read nine of his poems, appearing before the important Southern writer George Washington Cable. Field has signed on the second page at the foot. Some spotting and toning; otherwise in fine condition. 11.2 x 17.8 cm.
10. Printed autobiographical text about Field, going into painstaking detail on every aspect of his life, career, publications, likes, dislikes, and opinions, and concluding: "I give these facts, confessions and observations for the imformation [sic] of those who, for one reason or another, are applying constantly to me for biographical data concerning myself." No. 3 of 8 copies on Japan paper. With a facsimile signature and date, April 5, 1894. 4 pp. on a bifolium with folding creases and slight toning; otherwise in fine condition. 15.4 x 22.7 cm.
11. Signed song text with the title "The Fellowship Drinking Song," written by Field to be sung at a gentlemen's club. The song, to the tune of The Bogie Man, begins "Come, brothers, share the fellowship / We celebrate to-night." Published as "A Drinking Song" in Field's collection Songs and Other Verse (1896). Field has signed at the upper left. Printed on a card; slight smudges; otherwise in very fine condition. 11.7 x 17 cm.
12. Envelope addressed in Field's hand to W. I. Way, Esq. With a note: "We shall call upon you Monday evening. E. F." Slight tears and smudges; otherwise in good condition. 18.6 x 12.5 cm.
13. First page of a proof of one of Field's "Sharps and Flats" columns, beginning with a poem, The Bibliomaniac's Prayer, and continuing on the theme of book collectors and their amusing weaknesses. The poem was published in Field's collection A Little Book of Western Verse (1896). Folding creases, slight tears and chipping; otherwise in good condition. 15 x 27.5 cm.
14. Facsimile reproduction autograph manuscript of the poem in item (3), reduced in size and without color. Folding creases and slight smudging; otherwise in fine condition. 16 x 24 cm. (12898)
Archive Literature Autograph Document Signed Document/Item