Robert Frost Sends a Fellow Poet a Copy of his Book, Signing His Name and Addressing Both Sides of the Mailing Box

Mailing Box Signed “R. Frost” twice, 8.75” x 6”. Two “Parcel Post” labels addressed by Frost, one for each side of the box: FROM “R. Frost / 25 Brewster St / Cambridge Mass” TO “Mr. Harold Corbin / Lake Forest Academy / Lake Forest / Illinois.” Nine 3¢ Statue of Liberty stamps affixed and cancelled on one side. Frost has written “Book” (part of the “k” is scraped). The mailing box is in fair condition but the two address labels, each filled out and signed by Frost, are in fine condition.

Harold Corbin was headmaster at Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, Illinois, from 1951-1969. He was a good friend and collector of Robert Frost. In fact, a signed manuscript by Frost of his poem “The Objection To Being Stepped On,” dated October 18, 1957, in the Amherst (Mass.) College Archives is inscribed: “For Florin and Harold Corbin At L.F.A. where it was first read aloud." A printed photograph “Poet Robert Frost sits between Headmaster Harold Corbin and his wife, Florie Corbin, during Frost’s visit to Lake Forest Academy, October 1961” is included.

Harold Corbin was also a poet whose books of poems, published in the 1980s and 1990s, include Counting I, Counting II, Counting III, Before I Sleep, and Nethering: New and Collected Poems.

The book Frost sent is not present. There is no postmark on the mailing box, but 3¢ stamps were used as regular postage until 1958. Since Frost used nine 3¢ coil stamps, which came in a roll of 100, he most likely still had these stamps after rates were increased. It is possible that the book may have been In the Clearing, his first collection of new poems in 15 years. Published in 1962, the book includes “The Gift Outright,” written for President Kennedy’s inauguration. An unsigned copy of this book is present. It is in very good condition, with original dust jacket. A previous owner has signed the title page adding “Sept. 62.”