The Harvard Book. A Series of Historical, Biographical, and Descriptive sketches. By various authors

Cambridge: Welch, Bigelow and Company, 1875. First edition. Hardcover. Good. With the Class Supper Semi Centennial 1826 - 1876 card made out to Dr. Henry Dyer, with a lengthy list of illustrious signatures on the verso, loosely inserted. Many of the names are Harvard Divinity School graduates, and one is of the cofounder of the noted Transcendental Club which was formed with Ralph Waldo Emerson, George Putnam. This group of New England 19th century intellectuals gave rise to Transcendentalism in the US.

The signatures include some of the remarkable graduates of the Class of 1826: J. S. Wheeler, Henry Dyer, Edward Warren, Allen W. Dodge, A. P. Peabody (Plummer professor of Christian Morals, Harvard 1860 - 1881 who entered Harvard when he was 12), Samuel [Wathen], Alexander J. Hamilton, Julian Abbott, Geo. Putnam, Willard Parker, S. F. [Hawes], G. W. Hosmer (noted Unitarian preacher, president of Antioch College); Wm [Ruper], Oliver Stearns (Parkman Professor of Theology at Harvard), Wm. A. Gordon, and Cazeneau Palfrey.

Two folio volumes, profusely illustrated with wood engravings, lithographs, and many heliotypes of Harvard professors and buildings. Vol I: 346pp; Vol II 447pp. Publisher's maroon cloth, blind tooled, gilt Harvard emblem to covers, top edges gilt. Spines ends quite worn, some loss; corners bumped. Front cover of Vol I with split in cloth at top of spine; front board Vol II detached. Faint damp stain top edge or foredge of Vol I, not affecting text or images.