The Story of My Life, Signed by Helen Keller 

Keller, Helen. The Story of My Life. New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1903 (March). First edition. 8vo, ribbed maroon cloth, gilt front and spine, gilt top edges of pages, no dj, frontis photo of Keller with Anne Sullivan, 441pp. Signed Helen Keller on ffep. Accompanying materials indicate the provenance of this volume: A.W. Anthony, a friend and committee member with Miss Keller, to his granddaughter, Beth Dressler, and from her to "Kristin."

Helen Keller (1880-1968) began this story before her life had barely started. She was just 22 and a student at Radcliffe. One of her English teachers, Dr. Charles Copeland, suggested she write about her personal experiences. The exercise helped her develop her writing skills, already substantial. In 1902, Ladies' Home Journal serialized her life story (up to that point), and offered her a substantial fee - the first time she realized she might be able to make a living as a writer. Doubleday then picked up the autobiography the following year. It was an instant success, and remains in print after a century.

Book has some shelf wear, and wear to the spine ends. Text block broken in several places, not uncommon for a large volume, but no pages loose.