Taghconic; Or Letters and Legends about our Summer Home

First edition. 228 pp. 8vo. A travel guide dedicated to the "Summer Ramblers on the Berkshire Hills," which mentions the homes of several authors. The author notes that "upon a little hill, around which the Housatonic makes a graceful curve, is the villa of Oliver Wendell Holmes.Adjoining the estate of Dr. Holmes is that of HERMAN MELLVILLE, who has retired thus far of the sea, where nothing can remind him of the familiar sound of ocean, save the roar of the wind among the forest trees" (p. 15-16). Longfellow's writings on the area are mentioned at multiple times, and other names like that of Emerson appear to give context. Finally there is a six page section devoted to Nathaniel Hawthorne at page 101, whom Melville first encountered in the area in 1850, and they're both mentioned again on pages 212-3. Melville mentioned this guide to Hawthorne in a letter dated October 25, 1852: "Among others you figure in it, & I also. But you are the most honored, being the most abused, and have the greatest space allotted to you. - It is a 'Guide Book' to the Berkshire." SCARCE. Sealts, Melville's Reading, 478 Publisher's dark green blindstamped cloth with gilt spine title with light soiling, some chipping at the head of spine, spine leaning, rubbed around the front corners; ownership signatures to front pastedown, slight foxing to endpapers and first and last leaves, occasional spotting inside, otherwise remarkably bright.…