Robert Burns / William K Bixby TO MARY IN HEAVEN 1916 Very Rare True First Edition Author Signed Inscription George Herbert Walker President Bush Grandfather Poetry Privately Printed Saint Louis Laid In Letter Brown Hotel Louisville Kentucky ONeil House Columbus Ohio Unique Dust Jacket

Title: To Mary in Heaven
Author: Robert Burns - Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, the Bard of Ayrshire, Ploughman Poet and various other names and epithets, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language.

He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.
Editor: William K. Bixby - William K. Bixby was a collector of art and rare books, and is known for his significant philanthropic contributions around the St. Louis area.
Publisher: Privately Printed
City: Saint Louis
Year: 1916
Printing Information: First Edition
Binding Style: Hardcover
Pagination: 26 pages
Width: 6.5" Height: 9.75"
Book Details: This very rare author signed true first edition was privately printed and bound in paper covered boards and gilt stamped lettering on the front. The volume is wrapped in a marbled-paper wrapped cloth dust jacket with no markings.

The volume is inscribed to Bert Walker from William Bixby. Bert Walker, also known as George Herbert Walker Sr. (1875-1953), was maternal grandfather to the Late President George H.W. Bush and a great-grandfather of President George W. Bush, both of whom were named in his honor. He was also an American banker and businessman, whose brokerage firm eventually became part of Merrill Lynch.

The text includes a facsimile of "The most beautiful of all the lyrics by Burns and one of the most celebrated poems ever written" in addition to an introduction by Bixby. This private printing as followed by a limited edition published by the Bibliophile Society.

Laid in to this volume is a very old letter written on stationery from the The Brown Hotel, a, historic 16-story hotel in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The letter is signed only Joseph but requests the recipient write to him in care of The Neil House, another historic hotel that stood across the street from the Ohio Statehouse. It had several incarnations, from the original 1820s tavern to the final hotel that was demolished in 1981.

Condition / Notes: This antique author signed true first edition shows well privately printed and bound in paper covered boards with gilt lettering and a marbled-paper lined cloth dust jacket.

The books show moderate age/wear externally concentrated at the extremities. The text block is intact and detached from the boards which are present. The dust jacket has some edge wear and cracking to the marbled paper lining. The front free end paper is detached and present. The text is clear and pages are bright with scattered foxing and moisture staining not affecting the text.

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