BURNETT, Frances Hodgson.

£975 · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

Little Lord Fauntleroy. First edition, first issue, of the author's first children's novel. This copy includes an autograph letter by the first lady, Frances Cleveland, on White House stationary. Thanking Margaret M. Croffut for sending her the book, Cleveland returns it with "tears very near my eyes for the sweet manly little heir". The letter is pasted on the frontispiece verso.Croffut's (1829-1891) ownership inscription is on the title page. She likely met Frances Cleveland through her husband Dr William A. Croffut (1835-1915), who was the editor of The Washington Post during the first Cleveland Administration. The letter was written between 1886 and 1889, the period which saw Frances Cleveland serve as the youngest first lady in American history.Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was a long-time resident in Washington, D. C. and would often host a literary saloon which was well attended by politicians and other intellects. The first issue has the De Vinne Press imprint on the colophon and the signature "14" on the lower left margin of page 209.

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