![Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle, and Little Breeches](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/269/548/1077548269.0.m.jpg)
Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle, and Little Breeches
by [Black Interest] Hay, John
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Very good condition
- Seller
-
Garrison, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Boston: James R. Osgood, 1871. Wraps. Very good condition. Stereotypical caricature of an African American in the first work by Abraham Lincoln's private secretary, John Hay. This occurs in the first of 2 poems, in which "Jim Bludso" sacrifices his life in order to save the passengers of a Mississippi river steam boat.
The Jim Bludso poem, written in the dialect of Pike County, Illinois where Hay grew up, describes Bludso (a white man) as "no saint"; a man with 2 wives, who nevertheless gives his own life to save everyone else onboard when his Mississippi steamboat catches fire. Hay describes the steamboat tearing along, "with a nigger squat on her safety-valve". Two engraved illustrations depict the black crew member in stereotypically racist style, dressed in rags, with exaggerated features. The illustrations by Solomon Eytinge Jr. (1833 - 1905), American illustrator of journals and books, notably Dickens and Tennyson.
The second poem describes the loss and miraculous recovery of a young pioneer child in a snow storm. These pioneering poems are written in similar dialect to the roughly contemporaneous poems by Bret Harte.
Original orange printed paper wrappers, with advertisements for John Hay's "Pike County Ballads" on rear wrapper. 12mo, 23 pp, illustrations. Front wrapper slightly dusty lower corner, short split along spine and front wrapper. BAL 7739. OCLC: 14577460 records one copy at Brown.
The Jim Bludso poem, written in the dialect of Pike County, Illinois where Hay grew up, describes Bludso (a white man) as "no saint"; a man with 2 wives, who nevertheless gives his own life to save everyone else onboard when his Mississippi steamboat catches fire. Hay describes the steamboat tearing along, "with a nigger squat on her safety-valve". Two engraved illustrations depict the black crew member in stereotypically racist style, dressed in rags, with exaggerated features. The illustrations by Solomon Eytinge Jr. (1833 - 1905), American illustrator of journals and books, notably Dickens and Tennyson.
The second poem describes the loss and miraculous recovery of a young pioneer child in a snow storm. These pioneering poems are written in similar dialect to the roughly contemporaneous poems by Bret Harte.
Original orange printed paper wrappers, with advertisements for John Hay's "Pike County Ballads" on rear wrapper. 12mo, 23 pp, illustrations. Front wrapper slightly dusty lower corner, short split along spine and front wrapper. BAL 7739. OCLC: 14577460 records one copy at Brown.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 23555
- Title
- Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle, and Little Breeches
- Author
- [Black Interest] Hay, John
- Format/Binding
- Wraps
- Book Condition
- Used - Very good condition
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Paperback
- Publisher
- James R. Osgood
- Place of Publication
- Boston
- Date Published
- 1871
- Bookseller catalogs
- POETRY; LITERATURE;
Terms of Sale
Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 10 days after delivery if an item arrives mis-described or damaged.
About the Seller
Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints
Biblio member since 2009
Garrison, New York
About Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints
Booksellers for over 40 years, members of prominent trade associations (ABAA, ILAB, ANZAAB, IMCOS, ANZMS, PBFA). We are located at Garrison NY, a stone's throw from the Metro North Hudson line train, just over 1 hr. from NYC on the banks of the Hudson River. Books, maps, prints & ephemera bought & sold.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- 12mo
- A duodecimo is a book approximately 7 by 4.5 inches in size, or similar in size to a contemporary mass market paperback. Also...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- BAL
- Bibliography of American Literature (commonly abbreviated as BAL in descriptions) is the quintessential reference work for any...