Randall, James Ryder:

$250 · Offered by William Reese Company

[Autograph Letter, Signed "James R Randall"]. Randall (1839 - 1908) is most widely remembered as the author of the poem "Maryland, My Maryland," which is also the reason for his being labelled the "Poet Laureate of the Lost Cause". It became a war hymn of the Confederacy after the poem's words were set to music during the Civil War by Jennie Cary. It later became the state song of Maryland, annually placed before the larger public outside the state's borders when played at the Preakness Stakes. The poem was first published on 26 April 1861, in the New Orleans newspaper, THE SUNDAY SENTINEL. Randall here responds to an autograph collector: "Dear Sir: I herewith send you two verses of [']My Maryland[']. I suppose you have seen the August [issue of the] Century which contains the whole poem and an account of its production etc, With best wishes for your prosperity, I am Very Truly Yrs James R. Randall." The aforementioned souvenir fair copy is not present.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.