Lorenz, Lincoln. The Life of Sidney Lanier [signed with ALS & Christmas card]

Lorenz, Lincoln. The Life of Sidney Lanier [signed with ALS & Christmas card]. New York: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1935. First Edition. [5713]

Purple publisher's cloth, spine sunned, old closed repair to the top of the backstrip. 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, author signature on ffep, b/w frontis portrait on glossy stock, xii., 340 pp., infrequent marginalia by Mayfield, front flap panel of dj describing the book pasted to the rfep, four paste stains on the rear paste-down that once held something in place, most likely another part of the dj. Dust jacket present only in the one panel.

Signed "Lincoln Lorenz" on the ffep; beneath is "Mayfield, Washington, D.C. 1936." Mayfield bought the book in 1936 and Lorenz signed it in 1937. Pencil inscription by Mayfield on the rfep dated 17 Nov, '37: "Mr. Lorenz (deaf in his left ear) visited me in my apartment on Connecticut Avenue this evening - Mother - who's visiting me from Texas - and Mr. L. and I had a very pleasant evening, talking of Lanier - and also - John Paul Jones - whose biography L. is now writing. L. autographed this copy during the visit."

Laid in is an ALS with envelope, date October 3, 1937, from Lorenz to Mayfield acknowledging his letter and willingness to sign a copy of his book for him, suggesting that it may be done during his upcoming trip to Washington, DC. Lorenz also answers that he no longer has the manuscript for this book; he "destroyed it long ago."

Also, a Christmas card signed by Lorenz, with envelope dated Dec. 23, 1937.

This copy once owned by John S. Mayfield, bibliophile and sometime curator of Rare Books & Manuscripts at Syracuse University. Mayfield was an avid collector of Lanier, wrote about his sojourn in Texas, and contributed materials to the Johns Hopkins Press multi-volume edition of Lanier's Letters.