MONT SAINT MICHEL AND CHARTRES.

Washington: [Privately Printed for the Author],, 1904.. Presentation Copy: "...I am really and heartily sorry to have offered more than I could perform..." First edition of Adams' important and highly personal meditation on medieval culture and architecture, privately published for distribution initially to family and, eventually, to friends. The size of the edition, while not specified, was quite small, and in both format and intent it foreshadows The Education of Henry Adams, published three years later. In 1912, Adams prepared a revised and enlarged edition of this work, again for private distribution, and in 1913 the first public edition appeared, accompanied by an Introduction by eminent American architect Ralph Adams Cram. This copy bears Henry Adams' presentation inscription on the front free endpaper: "For D. D. Wallace from Henry Adams Dec. 6, 1906," and is accompanied by a three-page autograph letter, signed, from Adams to the recipient, "1603 H. Street [Washington, D.C.] 6 December 1906," on three panels of a folded quarto sheet of letterhead, signed in full. The letter is accompanied by the original envelope, also addressed in his hand. Adams writes, apologizing for his "forgetfulness of having sent my copy of Randall [?] as well as most of my Americana to the library of Adelbert College in Cleveland which asked for help." Adelbert College was one of three predecessors to today's College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. In compensation, Adams continues: "Perhaps you will let me offer in its place my own last work which is not published, and of which barely fifty copies are in readers' hands. Although it does not touch American history very nearly, but rather my own branch of teaching as professor long ago at Harvard College, it will perhaps serve to show that I am really and heartily sorry to have offered more than I could perform. As a rule, the volume is not intended for the general public, and you will have to make allowances for a certain degree of intimacy in the relation between author and reader which will, I am sure, seem material to anyone who teaches for the pleasure of it. Yrs truly Henry Adams." The recipient, David Duncan Wallace (1874-1951) earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt in 1899, and in 1934 published his most widely known and respected work, a monumental four-volume History of South Carolina. The list of page references on the rear pastedown, some of which are mirrored by marginal pencil highlights in the text, were most likely written by Wallace. Large quarto (33 x 25.5 cm). Original blue cloth, spine gilt with leather label. Cloth extremities lightly rubbed, front inner hinge carefully and professionally tightened. Near repairs to small chips in upper margin of front free endpaper and following two blanks. A few paper clip dents and rust marks, occasional light soiling and foxing. Presentation inscription on front free endpaper (see below), large clipped newsprint reproduction of J.B. Potter's portrait of Adams affixed to front pastedown (and offset a bit opposite), with list of page references on rear pastedown (all but one in pencil). Very good overall. BAL 31.