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First edition, presentation copy, inscribed by him to Rev. Furness on the front free endpaper of volume 1, "with the regards of the translator", accompanied by an autograph letter dated 1 May, 1867. In the letter, Longfellow offers his condolences for the recent loss of Furness's son, William Henry Furness Jr., who had died unexpectedly that same year. Longfellow states that this copy was originally intended for the younger Furness: "You must allow me, my dear W. Furness, to send you the copy of the translation of the Divine Comedy, which I should have given him, had he been living. It will add an interest to it in your eyes, to remember that he was interested in it". William Henry Furness (1802-1896) was an American theologian and pastor of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. His son, Furness Jr. (1827-1867), was a portrait painter who lived in Europe, and later became part of Longfellow's social circle. In the letter, Longfellow recalls the connection he had with the younger Furness who, he writes, was part of Longfellow's "Dante Club" in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, which began in 1865. Longfellow himself was no stranger to grief. After the tragic death of wife and mother Fanny, who accidentally set herself on fire and died of her burns in 1861, he found himself unable to compose poetry. He instead turned his energies to the ambitious translation of Dante's Divina Commedia and was the first American to translate the work. During this period, Longfellow socialized with an array of prominent Boston and Cambridge figures. The Dante Club consisted of distinguished Massachusetts scholars with the vision of bringing Dante's poetical masterpiece to North America. Octavo, 3 vols. Envelope tipped onto front pastedown with signed autograph letter inserted. Original green cloth, spines lettered in gilt, spine ends with triple gilt rule, front covers lettered in gilt, rear covers lettered in blind, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. Housed in custom green cloth slipcase. Spines worn with chips and tears at ends, a little silverfishing and some marks to cloth, short superficial splits to joints, inner hinges of vol. II repaired, hinges of vols. II and III cracked, a little fragile but holding, damp-stains to margins of contents on vol. 1, neat marginal pencil annotations, otherwise contents clean and presentable. A good set.
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