Lot 778
[Lincoln, Abraham]. Autograph Manuscript Poem Signed by Lucy Larcom Written on the Day of Lincoln's Funeral. One page, Octavo, [Boston], April 15, 1865. Funeral poem entitled "Tolling" written by the well-known New England poet of 19th century mill life, Lucy Larcom. Ms. Larcom was a lifelong friend of John Greenleaf Whittier, whose verse first came to his attention when Larcom was still a young women writing for the Lowell Offering and other mill girl's magazines published for the entertainment of this flowering new industrial culture. Her work as a magazine editor brought her to the periphery of the flourishing Boston literary circle, but she did not become much involved in it, prefering her old small-town associations. In the 1870's she did most of the work on three anthologies that appeared under Whittier's name, and continued turning out her own verse, most of it appearing in St. Nicholas, or the Atlantic Monthly.
Tolling is a three stanza poem titled, dated and signed by its author "Lucy Larcom." The poem, which is full of nineteenth century expressions of sentiment and uses the conventional prosody of the day, begins as follows:
"Tolling, tolling, tolling!
All the bells of the land!
Lo, the patriot martyr
Taketh his journey grand,
Travels into the ages,
Bearing a hope how dear!
Into life's unknown vistas,
Liberty's great pioneer
Tolling, tolling, tolling,
See, they come as a cloud,
Hearts of a mighty people,
Bearing his pall and shroud…"
The poet has inscribed below the text, "Written on the day of President Lincoln's funeral." Clip stain at top left, otherwise fine. Also included in this lot are two pieces of Civil War Ephemera:
A. Gettysburg Memorial Silk Ribbon. Approximately 7½ x 2¼" multicolored silk ribbon honoring the survivors of Gettysburg. Colorful thread proclaims "Survivors Association 90th PV 1863 - 1888 Gettysburg." Vividly woven in bright gold, red, black, and, blue, with a martial flag-and-eagle vignette. Torn at the top, which is slightly separated, but still intact.
B. Printed Broadside Lampooning "Sheridan's Last Ride." Large folio broadside, New York, printed by the American Photo-Litho Company, parodying Union Army General Philip Sheridan for not remaining in Troy for the funeral of General Thomas and rushing off instead to attend a honorary dinner in Philadelphia. Moderate foxing, else fine.
Estimated Value $200-UP.
From the Gerald Burg collection.
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| Realized $230 |
