Details:

Benjamin P. Shillaber autographed handwritten letter (ALS), two pages on a single folded sheet, dated Chelsea, Massachusetts, August 12, 1871, and signed at the conclusion, “B. P. Shillaber.” The letter is addressed to a close friend and offers a candid and highly personal glimpse into the life of one of nineteenth-century America’s best-known humorists.

Writing after receiving a note commemorating an anniversary “so memorable to us both,” Shillaber apologizes for his delayed response and reflects on his recent literary and professional struggles. He notes that he had left his position at Ticknor & Fields, describing himself as having become “a sort of a Bohemian, writing for this & that but getting very little for it.” He expresses hope of preparing something worthwhile in the coming winter but admits uncertainty about his future prospects.

The second page turns to family matters and personal hardships. Shillaber declines to prepare remarks for an upcoming dedication, humorously observing that writing anything suitable would require “strychnine enough to poison a regiment to start my muse.” He then recounts a serious accident suffered by his wife Carrie, who had broken the ligaments across the top of her foot and faced the prospect of spending the rest of her life on crutches. He also reports that “Bill’s youngest boy” had recently been near death before being saved by a physician. The letter concludes with warm regards to the recipient and his family.

A content-rich letter revealing both the humor and humanity of Shillaber during a transitional period in his literary career.

Fine condition.

Benjamin Penhallow Shillaber (1814-1890) was an American journalist, editor, and humorist best remembered as the creator of the immensely popular fictional character Mrs. Partington, whose witty sayings and observations became a national sensation during the nineteenth century. A longtime newspaper editor in Boston, Shillaber helped shape American humor writing and influenced later comic authors including Mark Twain. His books, essays, and newspaper columns enjoyed wide circulation, making him one of the most recognizable literary personalities of his era.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11615 1416194-1