Lot 113E email save

EMERSON, Ralph Waldo, editor. The Dial. rare set

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Boston and London: Weeks, Jordan and Company and Wiley and Putnam, 1841-1844. 16 issues (all published in this series). 8vo (205 x 130 mm). Collected in 4 volumes. First three volumes bound in contemporary blue pebbled cloth, fourth in contemporary blue wove cloth, all with gilt-ruled and lettered green morocco spine labels. Condition: minor offsetting to a few leaves in volumes 1-3, light spotting to final two issues of volume 4; boards slightly rubbed, spine ends lightly chipped with minor loss, cloth cracked around portion of label on volume 3 with the others rubbed, but a very sound set. Provenance: Anglo-American Transcendentalist Charles Lane, a contributor to the magazine (signature to 3 volumes). a rare set of this influential transcendentalist magazine, with provenance from contributor charles lane. Consisting of the complete run, Vol. 1 Number 1-Vol. IV-Number IV, July, 1840-April, 1844. Founded by members of the Transcendentalists Club as the official publication for their society, The Dial included articles by Thoreau, Emerson and Margaret Fuller. This copy with manuscript corrections to 2 leaves correcting typos, "ritualize" on p. 312 in volume 3 and "flood" on p. 412 in volume 2. "The chief importance of the transcendental club was that in it was originated "The Dial," the first really independent and original journal published in this country.... It was its novelty, its freshness of tone, its romantic temper, its boundless hope and courage, that caused it to be criticised and jeered at generally by the more conservative literary journals. It was not conformatory enough to the old methods to secure it a general recognition on the part of the public; and it was condemned because it was not understood or appreciated." (Willis, George Cooke. "An Historical and Biographical Introduction to Accompany The Dial..." Cleveland, 1909. P. 56) Charles Lane (1800-1870) was a founder, along with Amos Bronson Alcott, of Fruitlands, a Utopian farm (though no meat was eaten and no animal labor used) which sought to follow Transcendentalist ideals. A short-lived experiment, it was nevertheless one of the first American communes. He wrote a number of reviews for the present publication, even canvassing for subscriptions with Thoreau in a futile effort to boost its circulation.

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