[Bierce, Ambrose].

THE ANTI-PHILISTINE. Volume I.

1897 1st London: John and Horace Cowley, 1897. First edition. All four numbers (June through September, 1897) of this pugnacious sixpenny magazine and review of "belles letters" whose chief point was aimed at pricking the overinflated reputations of the era's hack poets and novelists, many of whom appeared regularly in the pages of Elbert Hubbards's monthly "The Philistine." Featuring American contributions by Gertrude Atherton, Eugene Field, and Joaquin Miller, the review's editorial bent was most harmonious with Bierce's own splenetic melodies, including the first appearances of "The Damned Thing," "The Realm of the Unreal," "A Watcher by the Dead," "A Son of the Gods," "My Favourite Murder," "Chickamauga," and several of his fables. Of Bierce's work in the August issue, an observer in the Whitehall Review wrote: "The three short essays of Ambrose Bierce are as fine...as anything I remember reading." With a 12-line signed holographic note from Bierce to the American Author's Guild tipped-in on the front pastedown. Gray cloth binding, with a design by Will H. Bradley stamped in black and orange on both the front and rear panel. Contents partially unopened. Small tear to the front hinge, with some rubbing and minor wear to the boards; otherwise a very good copy of a very scarce book. Housed in a custom cloth clamshell box with a black morocco spine and gilt-stamped lettering. Not in BAL. Provenance: From the Library of Edwin and Irma Grabhorn.

• USD 1,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: BOOKS013857I

• bookseller: Anthology Rare Books, Ltd. (USA)