The Northern Harp: Containing Songs From the St Lawrence, and Forest Melodies by Marion Albina Bigelow; A. F. Bigelow, editor - 1852

Auburn, NY: Derby & Miller, 1852. First edition. Hardcover. Good. Two books bound as one with separate title pages and contents, pagination continuous. Much wear to tips, corners and edges of book, cloth on rear cover perishing, dampstaining to preliminaries, more to rear endpapers with page edges wrinkled mainly in book 2 Forest Melodies, foxed through out. Nearly 300 poems selected from over a thousand manuscripts. The editor, her husband, notes that "So large a number of elegies have been selected, for the reason that such compositions are more popular among the masses than any other species of serious literature. The author is wholly incapable of levity, and the reader will find nothing of it in any of her productions." Indeed Marion Bigelow's obituary asserts "Her writings have been thus characterized: "The poems are of the best of their kind. They abound in specimens of the tender, pathetic, and a subdued melancholy, everywhere breathing the pure spirit of Christian fortitude, love and devotion". This chastened sadness and subdued melancholy impress the reader, but at the same time there are purity and elevation of thought and wondrous faith. She wrote from the heart to the heart, impelled by love and desire to give voice to the aspirations of her soul." First printing, no others noted. Most items ship with free delivery confirmation, electronic tracking and jacket protectors (generally over $10.00) if applicable. Clean recycled packing material will be used when possible.