Choice ALS signed "H. Melville," one page, 5 x 8, December 4, 1857. Letter to a gentleman written from Boston. In full: "Your note is received and in accordance with your request, I am very truly yours." In fine condition.
Earlier in the year Melville had returned to America from a grand tour of Europe and the Middle East to publish what would become his final novel, The Confidence-Man, in April. He abandoned writing prose after the book debuted to poor reviews, and embarked on a career as a lecturer around the time he wrote this letter. One of his earliest engagements was on December 2 at Tremont Temple in Boston, where he delivered the sole lecture in his repertoire, 'Statues in Rome.' Although his fame from the novels Typee and Omoo had largely faded, Melville was remembered as a storyteller of far away lands and native peoples; audiences were understandably disappointed when he spoke of the idealized sculpture of ancient Rome. Any autographic material from Melville is exceedingly rare and this is an absolutely gorgeous example.
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