Signed book: A Witness Tree. First edition, first printing. NY: Henry Holt and Company, 1942. Hardcover with dust jacket, 6 x 8.75, 91 pages. On the first free end page, Frost pens his poem “Beech” in its entirety in bold fountain pen, signed and inscribed at the conclusion, “Robert Frost, For Russell Alberts, 1943.” In full: “Where my imaginary line / Bends square in woods, an iron spine / And pile of real rocks have been founded. / And off this corner in the wild, / Where these are driven in and piled, / One tree, by being deeply wounded, / Has been impressed as Witness Tree / And made commit to memory / My proof of being not unbounded. / Thus truth’s established and borne out, / Though circumstanced with dark and doubt, / Though by a world of doubt surrounded.” Frost also notes that it can be found on page nine. Autographic condition: fine, with a mild brush to the inscription. Book condition: VG+/VG. Accompanied by an attractive custom-made clamshell presentation case. An immensely desirable example as the title of the collection draws its name from this poem, used to open A Witness Tree and establish the poetic and thematic tension of the volume. Frost went on to be awarded his fourth Pulitzer Prize for A Witness Tree in 1943. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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