Horatio Alger's first book, 1st Ed.

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Author: Alger, Horatio, Jr.
Title: Bertha's Christmas Vision: An Autumn Sheaf
Place Published: Boston
Publisher:Brown, Bazin, and Company
Date Published: 1856
Description:

viii, 248 pp. Wood engraved frontispiece and additional illustrated title page. (12mo) original blindstamped green cloth, lettered and tooled on spine in gilt, yellow endpapers. First Edition.

"This is Horatio Alger's first book, and is very rare. It is a collection of twenty short stories, some of which – and possibly all – previously appeared in various story-papers and other periodicals. All of these stories were written somewhat before Alger settled upon his ultimate "strive-and-succeed" pattern..." Gardner, p. 53.
Condition Report: Slightly fraying bumps at ends of somewhat darkened spine, soiling to cloth, rubbing at edges and corners; front free endpaper excised, light foxing to endpapers, a few stains, leaves and plates mildly toned; very good.