[Wiggin, Kate Douglas- Rare First Edition of Wiggin's Second Book, in Original Wrappers] The Bird's Christmas Carol

San Francisco: C. A Murdock & Co, 1887. First Edition. First Edition. Square octavo, 6 x 6 inches, 67pp.. Original publisher's printed wrappers on slightly thick, card laid paper with enchanting cover illustration of a bird on a stylized scroll of music, title and author. FIRST EDITION of the author's rare second book in original wrappers. This scarce work was sold for the benefit of the Silver Street Kindergarten, in San Francisco, and she published "The Birds' Christmas Carol" in part to raise money for children's charities. Its success led to a trade edition published the following year. Extremely rare as it was privately printed in a very small (truncated) run, and owing to its fragile nature very few are thought to have survived. An amazingly preserved copy in fine condition, probably owing to the contemporary quarter morocco box with three-part hinged cloth-covered folder, by James MacDonald Co., noted bookbinder of the period. The book The book is presented: "Kate A. Tucker, 1887 [from] M.E.J." on front free fly, and two small book labels, including the famous collector William A. Strutz (see below). BAL 22580; Blank, Peter Parley to Penrod 86.Provenance: Kate A. Tucker (signature and note on front free endpaper, "From Mr. E. J.," dated 1887); Mildred Greenhill (bookplate); H. Bradley Martin (his sale, Sotheby's New York, 31 January 1990, lot 2500). From the William A. Strutz Library. (Inventory #: 6860)