A LETTER TO MR. STEVENSON'S FRIENDS.
[published in Samoa in 1894] [Apia, Samoa:] For private circulation. 1894. Original stapled self-wrappers.
First (privately printed) Edition of this booklet describing Stevenson's last hours and burial -- containing text that is quoted in almost every RLS biography, since it is the only first-hand account of his death. This was published locally in Samoa, just a few weeks after RLS's death on December 3rd 1894. The booklet was put together by his stepson Lloyd Osbourne, whose preliminary acknowledgement is dated December 17th; according to the National Library of Australia it was "printed at Samoa by personal friends of RLS who were present at his burial on the spur on Mount Vaea." Osbourne starts out,
Left with the task of writing to Mr. Stevenson's innumerable friends, to describe to each the story of his last hours amongst us, and the manner in which we laid him away in the grave he had chosen, the writer [Osbourne] has shrunk from the work that devolved upon him... He has ventured, therefore, to print this single letter as it stands, and has sought the assistance of a few intimate friends in order that their recollections may be presented with his own...
He [RLS] wrote hard all that morning of the last day; his half-finished book, "Hermiston," he judged the best he had ever written... At sunset he came down-stairs; rallied his wife about the forebodings she could not shake off... He was helping his wife on the verandah, and gaily talking, when suddenly he put both hands to his head, and cried out "What's that?" Then he asked quickly, "Do I look strange?" Even as he did so, he fell on his knees beside her...
Most copies are like this, on plain wove paper without a watermark, with the front cover serving as title page. A few (possibly slightly earlier) were printed on thinner wove paper with a "Palo Alto" watermark, bound in limp vellum with ties -- most likely special copies for closest family and friends. This copy is in very good-plus to near-fine condition, the leaves still unopened; there is minor chipping of the wrapper's yapped edge, a few small dents on the rear wrapper have caused similar impressions on the last few leaves, and the single staple is rusted). The number of copies printed is unknown, but it is small: this is the only copy we have offered in our 45+ years (though this is the second time we've offered it). Princeton 60 #2. Housed in a morocco-backed slipcase with inner chemise. Item #15847
Price: $1,750.00