Two books by James W. Riley (1849-1916), Inscribed.

Two books by James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916). Inscribed by Author.

Offered to Charles Holman Black for Christmas, in 1904:

·       A defective Santa Claus: first printing, December 1904

·       Love-Lyrics: edition of 1899, first published in 1883

Riley inscribed each book with very friendly and personal signed notes such as: “From Indianapolis your old home”; “His old Hoosier fellow citizen”; “His old fellow”; “greeting and encores of a brother singer” (see pictures).  The two books are accompanied by drawings.

Published in Indianapolis by The Bobbs-Merrill Company.

Charles Holman Black, originally from Indianapolis (as Riley was), where his father was a music teacher, became a famous Salon singer in Paris, hence the references to music in Riley’s notes.

 The two books are in very good condition, with some sun fading at the spine and along extremities.

 

 First book: “A defective Santa Claus”:

First printing, December 1904.

Bound in decorated green cloth-covered boards signed "MA" monogram for Margaret Armstrong, with gilt title, border.

Pictures by C.M. Relya and Will Vawter

The author offered the book to Charles Holman Black for Christmas, in 1904, with the following inscriptions: “with Christmas greetings of his old fellow townsman” and “the music of the laughing lip, the luster of the eye”, which is from a Riley’s poem whose title is “The Days Gone By”:

O the days gone by! O the days gone by!

The music of the laughing lip, the luster of the eye;

The childish faith in fairies, and Aladdin’s magic ring—

The simple, soul-reposing, glad belief in everything,—

When life was like a story, holding neither sob nor sigh,

In the golden olden glory of the days gone by.

 

Second book: “Love-Lyrics”:

Edition of 1899 (first edition: 1883)

Bound in illustrated green cloth boards with gilt title, border.

Pictures by William B. Dyer.

The author offered the book to Charles Holman Black for Christmas, in 1904, with the inscription: “With (…) greetings and encores of a brother singer”

Riley then went on and inscribed his poem “A’ Old Played-Out Song”, which appears page 31 of the book:

“Do they miss me at home?” Sing it lower –
And softer -and sweet as the breeze
That powdered our path with the snowy
White bloom of the old locus’-trees!
Let the whipperwills he’p you sing it,
And the echoes’ way over the hill,
Tell the moon boolges out, in a chorus
Of stars, and our voices is still.
[From “A” Old Played-Out Song”. See Hoosier form page 31]