[Field, Eugene- Original Manuscript, First Holograph Draft of Poem, Monastery Hill Bindery] First Manuscript of Poem, "Japanese Lullaby"

Holograph poem manuscript by Eugene Field of ìJapanese Lullabyî (25 lines), with corrections and deletions, on two pages. (35.5 x 29.5 cm.) Wonderfully bound (circa 1910) in full blue crushed morocco by the famed Monastery Hill Bindery, featuring superb gilt rulings and clusters of floral bouquets and inlaid red petals at all four corners on both covers, wide gilt dentelles and gorgeous silk moirÈ blue doublures. In a royal blue two-part morocco slipcase, with gilt spine. This is the original holograph of the popular poem by Eugene Field (ìThe Children's Poet,î 1850-1895), written by him in pencil (ca. 1889) on lined paper, with underlines and corrections. 95% of the poem is as it appears in the published version (see below), but fascinating additions and deletions reveal the thought process of the poet. On the verso is a handwritten note by the author's wife: ìThis is the original draft of The Japanese Lullaby written by my husband - Eugene Field.î Julia S. Field (Mrs. Eugene Field) Jan 8th 1920. ì Above this, is a wry limerick written, as well, in pencil, as follows: ìA handsome and lively, tho' nice body/ Is the son of my friend, Mrs. Peabody/ And it gives her great joy/ That her son is a boy,/ And not an absurd little She-body.î The poem was originally published in ìA Little Book of Western Verse,î NY, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1890. With interesting additions bound-in: 1. A portrait etching of the poet by W. H. W. Bicknell on handmade China paper. 2. The printed version of the poem (page 114 f., From Field's ìLittle Book of Western Versesî). 3. The musical setting of the poem, by Jean B. Stimpson, being the print of the version for piano (Boston, Thompson, 1906, 5 p.,) with original pictorial printed cover. An especially beautiful and expertly bound ensemble of the original manuscript, the setting of one of the most famous poems of the American poet. Fine.