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Boston, Poet Lore Company, 1905. Inscribed by Clara Barrus to John Burroughs and also signed by Burroughs. A 30-page chapbook by Barrus, who, after writing to Burroughs in 1901 became, for two decades, his friend, secretary, traveling companion, (presumed mistress), biographer and literary executor. This early volume in their acquaintance set out to define Burroughs as a "poet naturalist," placing him first in the line of Gilbert White and Thoreau, and then in the line of Emerson and Whitman; it also tells how Barrus came to Burroughs' "Slabsides" cabin and of time spent there with him. This copy is inscribed by Barrus: "To John Burroughs, A souvenir of the day on which his just found warmth & light shelter in the dear Retreat. Clara Barrus/ January 13, 1905." Beneath the inscription, Barrus has added a quote from Whitman: "However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted to retain it but a little while." The volume is later signed by John Burroughs on Sept 7, 1908 [?]." Apparently Burroughs signed it before gifting it, as the volume then had a treasured and documented afterlife: the front cover now reads: "Souvenir given by the poet naturalist John Burroughs/ West Park NY/ to R. Howard Wallace/ Morristown NY/ and left by him to his granddaughter Jessie M. Wallace/ Morristown NY." There is an additional note on the rear cover naming the friend who provided the "letters here enclosed," although no letters are enclosed: there are however notes on Barrus and Burroughs in an unknown hand; a printout of a 1919 Barrus letter; an obituary of Burroughs from Normal Instructor and Primary Plans; a newspaper photo of Burroughs at Riverby at age 81; and another photo of Burroughs ("At the Study Door") taken from A Year in the Fields. One line underlined on page 27; text block detached from covers; a good copy in wrappers. Barrus's first book about Burroughs, and a historic association copy. [#036846] $1,500

NY, Morrow, 1957. A biography of John Burroughs: apparently the first not written by a contemporary (Clara Barrus, Dallas Lore Sharp), but compiled using the words of Burroughs and Barrus as well as the recollections of Burroughs' son and grandchildren. With a foreword by Elizabeth Burroughs (who would later write her own works about her grandfather), and with a large number of striking illustrations by Lynd Ward: this copy is signed by Ward. Fine in a bright, near fine dust jacket but for some restoration to the spine extremities that is primarily evident on the verso. Uncommon signed by Ward, famous for his wordless woodcut novels and as founder of Equinox Cooperative Press: the Lynd Ward Prize is given annually in recognition of the best graphic novel or comic book, either fiction or nonfiction. [#036847] $750

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1912. Burroughs provides an 8-page introduction to this collection of "Outdoor Scenes and Thoughts From the Writings of Walt Whitman," as compiled by Waldo R. Browne. Says Burroughs, in part, "As a poet he did not specialize upon flowers or birds or scenery, or any of the mere prettiness of nature, but he thought of wholes, he tried himself by wholes, he emulated the insouciance, the impartiality, the mass movements of the earth." Trace shelf wear; a very near fine copy in a good dust jacket: chipped at both spine ends and rear corners, and fragile at the folds. Uncommon in the original edition; scarce in any jacket. [#035119] $300

South Brunswick/NY, A.S. Barnes, (1969). Kelley, the author of John Burroughs: Naturalist, the director of the John Burroughs Memorial Association, and Burroughs' grand-daughter, here introduces and illustrates a selection of 14 pieces by Burroughs. Also includes an 8-page photo insert. Signed by Elizabeth Burroughs Kelley. Near fine in a very good, rubbed dust jacket, with tears at the spine extremities that have been internally tape-mended. [#036196] $150

NY, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, (1939). A biography of four men: John Burroughs, Abraham Lincoln, Leo Tolstoy, and Graham Taylor. The Burroughs section runs 35 pages: not definitive, but relatively early, and in interesting company. Small ink stain on the title page, and a few pages of text have random ink markings, not affecting legibility; owner name on flyleaf; near fine in a very good, shallowly edge-chipped dust jacket. Uncommon in jacket. [#035986] $125