1925 HELEN KELLER INSCRIPTION! Story of My Life, Later Edition Illustrated

Description: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller, With Her Letters (1887-1901) and a Supplementary Account of Her Education, Including Passages from the Reports and Letters of Her Teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan. By John Albert Macy. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1925, INSCRIBED by HELEN KELLER on front end-page, light blue cloth binding, 441 pp, 7.5 x 5.25". In fair condition. Cloth boards scuffed at edges & worn/bumped at corners. Head and tail of spine bumped; tail chipped with exposed binding. Cloth on front hinge chipped with exposed binding mesh. General shelf-wear to cloth. Painted lettering lightly dulled, but legible. Ownership marginalia found on front paste-down: Presented September 25th, 1926 from Helen to Lola Rae Spangle. Inscription found on front end-page: "Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I rejoice that thorns have roses. Sincerely yours, Helen Keller. Sept. 22, 1926."Front and rear gutter split with exposed binding mesh. Light toning throughout text-block. Binding is fragile, but intact. Plates are all present and intact. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968) was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and her hearing after a but of illness when she was 19 months old. Helen used the method of "square handwriting." She placed a piece paper over a special grooved board. With a pencil in her right hand (she only learned to write in pencil) she formed block-style letters between the upper and lower grooves, while guiding the pencil along the lower groove with the forefinger of her left hand. Helen wrote to Ethel Orr dated February 26, 1890 (at the age of 10), "I cannot use a pen and ink, because I am blind." This particular work was given to Lola Rae Spangle (1921-2011)after spending a weekend together in a group with friends and family in May, 1926. The group met in Hornell, New York and travelled to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for a weekend travel. Three decades later, Lyell S. Spangle (1897-1964) wrote Helen & Polly Thomson a letter in 1956, saying, "Do you remember May, 1926? You, Helen, Anna Macy and Polly met us in Hornell, N.Y., and after spending the night in a mud hole we drove down the valley into Williamsport and spent and spent a week in the City as the guests of the Lion Club. Mrs. Spangle and I often discuss that weekend and the lasting effect it had on us. Your example of accomplishment has always been before us. At that time we had two children, Rae and Billy, Helen endorsed two copies of her book for the children which we certainly prize. Since growing up Rae is married, has two children & lives in Camp Hill, PA, and is very happy. Lola and I believe our weekend with you fortified us so we were able to bear the reverses in life and make it possible for us to recognize our blessings." Helen's personal secretary replied to the Spangles, saying, "Miss Keller and Miss Thomson have asked me to acknowledge your very interesting letter. They would have sent a personal reply, but they are overwhelmed with an accumulation of work which resulted while they were in Europe...They wish to remember your daughter...Miss Keller and Miss Thomson remember with pleasure the weekend spent with you folks and have asked me to send their warm greetings... Sincerely yours, Evelyn Davidson Seide." A special inscription from Helen Keller, herself, with local central Pennsylvania history - Lola Rae (Spangle) Meals resided in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania! Incredible & gift quality. RAREA1925OXYB03/24 - HK1287

Price: 2500 USD

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-12-07T20:54:54.000Z

Shipping Cost: 7.63 USD