Optimism, an Essay by Helen Keller (Creator) - 2012-08-01

New York: T.Y. Crowell & Company, 1903. Hardcover. Near Fine/No Jacket. 12mo. Green cloth binding with gilt title. 76 p.p., [1] frontis, photo of Helen Keller. Light rubbing to extremities, with bumped tail of spine, light foxing. In near fine condition. Helen Keller's (1880-1968) philisophical essay on optimism, both within and without, and its practice, following the success of her book, 'The Story of My Life.' Keller writes, "Once I knew the depth where no hope was, and darkness lay on the face of all things. Then love came and set my soul free." [p.p. 13].

New York: T. Y. Crowell and Company. (Printed by D. B. Updike at The Merrymount Press), 1903. First edition. Small 8vo. 76 pp, Chapter head and tail-piece vignettes; title page printed in red and black. Laid in are a 1928 typed fund raising letter for the American Foundation for the Blind from Keller, signed by her in pencil, on her Forest Hill., N.Y., letterhead, to "Mr. Calkins" (probably Earnest Elmo Calkins, 1968-1964, a deaf advertising executive who pioneered "consumer engineering"), a small foundation card printing the Braille alphabet and numerals, and a foundation leaflet, with a mounted portrait photograph of Keller on the front cover, printing a brief history of education for the blind and testimonials for several state and local associations and schools for the blind. Very good. Original red and gilt-stamped decorated green cloth, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. (11091).