Explore Black History

1879

A hardcover copy of The Complete Works of Alfred Tennyson Poet Laureate Illustrated Edition. The book has burgundy leather front and back covers. It is a leatherbound hardcover book with a sewn binding with gilded page edges. The front cover is embossed with brown, art deco style knotwork arranged into a rectangular frame. The back cover is identical. The faded orange book spine is embossed with six, horizontal, evenly spaced, dark brown bands. Between the first and third band is the shorted title of the book embossed in gold leaf text that reads, [TENNYSON'S / POEMS]. At the bottom is additional gold leaf text that reads, [ILLUSTRATED]. The interior of the book has black type on white pages. There is a thin, red decorative border around all of the pages. The book has glossy red marble pastedown and the first endpaper. The book features a selected poetry by Tennyson and three printed, black-and-white illustrations of etchings. There is pencil marginalia inscriptions on the Table of Contents (page IX), page 2, and on the last page, 455, and throughout the back free endpapers. On the top half of the first, white, front endpaper is cursive inscription, written in pencil, that reads [“Huts[?] at random scattered /And[inserted above] / each nest in bloom.” (?) / Tennyson’s first poetic / line, when he was five / years old; / "I hear a voice that's / speaking in the wind.” / First book of poems pub- / lished in South, by Jackson.]. On the next free endpaper are three inscriptions, the top and bottom ones by the same hand. The top inscription is handwritten in cursive pencil that reads [It was Thomas Cromwell / who destroyed the English Ab- / beys not Oliver. They lived / about 100 years apart.]. The middle inscription is handwritten in black ink and reads [Margaret J Langston[?] / from her Friend / Wm Ed Hayns[?] / October 6th 1880]. The bottom inscription is handwritten in cursive pencil and reads [Tennyson died Oct. 6, 1892. / Browning [died[ditto mark]] Dec. 12, 1889. / B's dedication of a selection of his poems to T. / To Alfred Tennyson, in poetry illustrious and consummate, in friendship noble and sincere.]. The book has 455 pages.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

The Rock Rest Tourist Home Collection

Books and Published Materials

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Inc.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2011.12.52.8

hardcover books

No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

ink on paper (fiber product) with leaf (metal) and leather on cardboard

H x W x D: 7 5/8 × 5 5/16 × 1 5/8 in. (19.3 × 13.5 × 4.1 cm)

Title • The Complete Works of Alfred Tennyson Poet Laureate. Illustrated Edition.

nmaahc_2011.12.52.8

NMAAHC

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ALFRED TENNYSON POET LAUREATE. ILLUSTRATED EDITION.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1870s

Sinclair, Clayton • Tennyson, Alfred • R. Worthington & Co. • Sinclair, Hazel • Rock Rest Tourist Home • Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company

New York City • United States • Maine • North and Central America • Kittery • York County

Description and travel • Black Enterprise • Literature • Black interiors • Segregation • Poetry

City • Kittery • County • York County • State • Maine • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • New York City • State • New York

No Known Copyright Restrictions