Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. Ticknor, Reed and Fields, Boston, 1850.
Price: US$24.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Original paper over hard boards with title in blackon the palebeige cover. Paper is worn on the spine but not the edges. First issue (a 3 below letters en at the bottom of page 33) snd State A (empersand in the print line on the copyright page is slightly higher than the rest of the line). Four pages of publisher ads at the front. "A Poem delivered Before the Phi Beta Kapa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850" Tight hinges, and no foxing , no prior owner marks. lipppcase is tapped, possibly home made, but serves its protective purpose nicely.
Seller: Craftsbury Antiquarian Books, Craftsbury Common, VT, U.S.A.
Price: US$25.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: First edition; first printing. Yellow endpapers + a free white endpaper at front and rear, Binding A: light yellow cream paste-down paper covered boards; state A imprint: 3 under "en", ampersand above line on copyright page; no ads, but possibly removed. Hardcover, fair. Corners bumped with cardboard exposed there and at spots along edges of boards, paper chipped off spine, boards and free front endpapers detached (all present) , previous owner's gift inscription and old bookseller's notations and prices (all in pencil) , foxing on first and last few leaves, foxing and tanning affecting approximately a third of each page between pp 23-24, otherwise clean and unmarked. Poetry; poem
Seller: Frost Pocket Farm - IOBA, Fleetville, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$25.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Small slim 8vo, pale yellow printed glazed boards, binding broken, preliminary publisher's ads dated October, 1850, with library bookplate pasted to inside upper cover, 39pp. BAL 8757, second printing, binding "A."
Seller: Steve Finer - Rare Books, Greenfield, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$43.80 + shipping
Description: BAL 8757: State A, Binding A of original glazed boards: 2500 copies. Spine, as is usually the case, partly eroded. Rubbed and edgeworn. Contents partly soiled, foxed. Good+
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$45.00 + shipping
Description: 39 pp. 12mo, publisher's cloth. Second printing; State A (B?); binding B. BAL 8757. Engraved bookplate; ink ownership signature; slight use to cloth; tight and sound.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver W. Astraea The Balance of Illusions. Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, Boston, 1850.
Price: US$45.50 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 12 mo, paper and boards, cream color. Some soil, some scuffs, rubbed. Lacking spine strip. A poem delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa society of Yale.
Seller: Hoffman Books, ABAA, IOBA, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.
Price: US$50.00 + shipping
Condition: Poor
Description: Foxing on front end paper and title page. Loose signatures. Spine cover gone. Stains across front cover. First state "A" of First Edition. Binding " B" Lacks ads between ii and [3]. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: The Country Bookshop [Member VABA], Plainfield, VT, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. Ticknor, Reed, & Fields, Boston, 1850.
Price: US$50.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Spine ends worn; a few minor spots and stains.
Seller: By Books Alone, Woodstock, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$75.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 12mo, 39 pages, yellow boards, thin, paper spine split, uncut, unopened First Printing, State A; binding state A [ BAL 8757 ]. A poem delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850. [ Cusing H405].
Seller: Thomas J. Joyce And Company, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. ASTRAEA. , 1850.
Price: US$95.00 + shipping
Description: Holmes, Oliver Wendell. ASTRAEA: THE BALANCE OF ILLUSIONS. A Poem Delivered Before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850. Ticknor, Reed & Fields, Boston, 1850 (1st printing). Paper covered boards, 39pp. VG, with some wear and soiling to the boards, and owner's bookplate and name.
Seller: Edward T. Pollack, ABAA, Portland, ME, U.S.A.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. A Poem Delivered Before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850, by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ticknor, Reed and Fields, Boston, 1850, 39 pp, cream hardcover, 7.5 x 5, 12mo. In fair condition. Spine shaken and nearly split. Cloth is shattering at spine. Modest soiling to covers with light staining and scuff marks. Pages untrimmed. Leaves toned with a few spots. Free of known markings. Please see photos. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) was a physician by profession but achieved fame as a writer; he was one of the best regarded American poets of the 19th century. Although mainly known as a poet, Holmes wrote numerous medical treatises, essays, novels, memoirs and table-talk books. ***** FORN-TUB0004 02/24HK
Seller: ROBIN RARE BOOKS at the Midtown Scholar, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. A Poem Delivered Before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850, by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ticknor, Reed and Fields, Boston, 1850, 39 pp, cream hardcover, 7.5 x 5, 12mo. In fair condition. Spine shaken and nearly split. Cloth is shattering at spine. Modest soiling to covers with light staining and scuff marks. Pages untrimmed. Leaves toned with a few spots. Free of known markings. Please see photos. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) was a physician by profession but achieved fame as a writer; he was one of the best regarded American poets of the 19th century. Although mainly known as a poet, Holmes wrote numerous medical treatises, essays, novels, memoirs and table-talk books. ***** FORN-TUB0004 02/24HK
Seller: ROBIN RARE BOOKS at the Midtown Scholar, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. A Poem Delivered Before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850, by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ticknor, Reed and Fields, Boston, 1850, 39 pp, cream hardcover, 7.5 x 5, 12mo. In fair condition. Spine shaken and nearly split. Cloth is shattering at spine. Modest soiling to covers with light staining and scuff marks. Old hand ownership on second fly leaf. Pages untrimmed. Leaves toned with a few spots. Free of known markings. Please see photos. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) was a physician by profession but achieved fame as a writer; he was one of the best regarded American poets of the 19th century. Although mainly known as a poet, Holmes wrote numerous medical treatises, essays, novels, memoirs and table-talk books.
Seller: ROBIN RARE BOOKS at the Midtown Scholar, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. A Poem Delivered Before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850, by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ticknor, Reed and Fields, Boston, 1850, 39 pp, cream hardcover, 7.5 x 5, 12mo. In fair condition. Spine shaken and nearly split. Cloth is shattering at spine. Modest soiling to covers with light staining and scuff marks. Significant offsetting on publishers list in front. Pages untrimmed. Leaves toned with a few spots. Free of known markings or ownership. Please see photos. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) was a physician by profession but achieved fame as a writer; he was one of the best regarded American poets of the 19th century. Although mainly known as a poet, Holmes wrote numerous medical treatises, essays, novels, memoirs and table-talk books.
Seller: ROBIN RARE BOOKS at the Midtown Scholar, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$195.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 8vo. 39 pages. Original printed glazed cream-yellow boards (binding A; skillfully rebacked). Very good. Enclosed in a 1/2 brown morocco slipcase with folding chemise. Bookplate of Alfred M. Hellman. First printing, State A, with the ampersand in the printer's imprint set somewhat above the line. BAL 8757.
Seller: Houle Rare Books/Autographs/ABAA/PADA, Palm Springs, CA, U.S.A.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. Ticknor, Reed and Fields, Boston, 1850.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Description: Off-white paper over boards with black lettering; 39 pp. A poem delivered before the Phi Betá Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850. This is the first printing of this book. VG- (scuffing and shelfwear to covers, light aging along top block edge, very small soiling portion along top outside edge )
Seller: Mullen Books, ABAA, Marietta, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$300.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 18.5 x 2 cm. 12mo. 4 [ads] 39pp. A card SIGNED by Holmes, "Beverly Farms, Mass., Sept 6th 1887" is affixed to the front fixed endpaper. From the library of noted collector Henry William Poor with his bookplate. In BAL binding style "A'" in cream-yellow boards with publisher's list dated October 1850. First printing state "B" with the "&" on the copyright page somewhat above the line and signature mark on p. 33 set under "ag". No priority established between state A and B. Spine is heavily chipped. Catalogue of the Library of Henry W. Poor #579. BAL 8757.
Seller: Midway Book Store (ABAA), St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.
Price: US$300.00 + shipping
Description: Original yellow printed boards, cover soiled; a few occasional spots to interior, otherwise a clean uncut copy housed in a cloth folding case. Inscription to verso of title. First edition, first printing, state A, without the advertisement between front endpapers; binding A. Until the Cambridge edition of 1895, this poem never appeared as a whole in any of the American editions of Holmes' collected works. Only seven parts of this work appeared in Songs in many keys, 1862, representing less than half of the full poem. BAL, 8757; C&T, p. 47; Cushing, H405; Osler 4938.
Seller: B & L Rootenberg Rare Books, ABAA, Sherman Oaks, CA, U.S.A.
HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. A Poem Delivered. , 1850.
Price: US$330.00 + shipping
Description: HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. Astraea: The Balance of Illusions. A Poem Delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, August 14, 1850. Orig. glazed printed boards. Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1850. First edition. BAL 8757, first printing, state B (A?), binding A. A fine unopened copy.
Seller: G.S. MacManus Co., ABAA, Bryn Mawr, PA, U.S.A.
Price: US$350.00 + shipping
Description: 12mo. 39, [1] pp. + 4 pp. inserted publisher's list (October 1850) at front. Publisher's printed glazed cream-yellow boards (BAL binding A); spine chipped, front joint cracked, some soiling to boards, in custom brown cloth slipcase and chemise First edition of this poetical address to the Yale Phi Beta Kappa Society by Oliver Wendell Holmes. With a later manuscript note of October 1906 on the ffep by Yale alumnus Edmund Stedman, who witnessed the address: "I was only sixteen it much impressed me, as all of us college boys knew something of the doctor's early verse." Stedman (1833-1908) was a poet, critic and stock broker, whose anthologies of American literature were important steps in defining the canon of American letters. BAL identifies two printings of the first edition, each printing having two states distinguished by minute typographical differences to the copyright page and signature mark 3. Priority between the two states is unknown. This is one of 2,500 copies of the first printing, state B (or A?), bound in the publisher's glazed boards, which BAL gives priority over the various cloth bindings. Edwin P. Hoyt, in his biography of Holmes, notes that "Holmes got one hundred dollars from publisher Fields for 'Astrea,' which pleased the author mightily" (The Improper Bostonian, p. 296) PROVENANCE: Edmund Clarence Stedman (book-plate, manuscript note); Mrs. J. Insley Blair (Blairhame book-label)REFERENCE: BAL 8757; Currier & Tilton, pp. 47-8 First edition, BAL state B (no priority), binding A.
Seller: Bull's Head Rare Books, ABAA, ILAB, Lebanon, NJ, U.S.A.
HOLMES, OLIVER WENDELL.. Astraea. Boston: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850, 1850.
Price: US$450.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. BAL 8757; first printing, state A; binding A. Publisher's boards; spine perished, and while the boards are in very good condition, the book needs to be resewn and rebacked; a short 1887 holograph letter signed by Holmes is tipped in. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$12500.00 + shipping
Description: BAL 8757: First Printing, State B (A?), Binding A of original glazed boards; 39 pages: 2500 copies printed of this poem delivered at the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College on 14 August 1850. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the front endpaper: "H. W. Longfellow/With the compliments of/O. W. Holmes." An absolutely superb presentation copy linking two giants of nineteenth century American Literature. With the bookplate of the Longfellow Collection of Harvard College Library on the front pastedown, deaccessioned. Dampstain to slightly more than the lower half of nearly all of the pages but not affecting the inscription. Spine, as is usually the case, partly eroded. Still Very Good. One could not hope for a better association
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.