Boylston Prize Dissertations for the Years 1836 and 1837

Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1838.

Price: $4,500.00

Hardcover. First edition. Octavo. 8vo. xiv, (2), 371pp. Folding map frontispiece with the state borders outlined by hand in colors. Brown ribbon-embossed cloth (oak-leaf and acorn pattern), gilt spine title. A couple of short closed tears at the spinal extremities and a few scattered spots of light foxing in the text. A lovely, very near fine copy. Holmes's first book of prose and first medical book, comprising three essays: "Dissertation on Intermittent Fever in New England" (which the map accompanies), "Dissertation on Neuralgia," and "Dissertation on Direct Exploration." This copy is Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to William Hussey Page, a prominent Boston physician of the time who later moved west: "Mr. W.H. Page from his friend O.W. Holmes." Beneath the inscription the recipient has added a date "Feb. 18, 1852." and "Vol. 98"; the latter designation he repeated and added his name "Wm. H. Page" on the final text leaf. The Boylston Prize awards helped the young Dr. Holmes inaugurate his successful career as a professor of medicine. The first book in his literary career was a collection of poems that appeared two years earlier. Ives, *Bibliography of Oliver Wendell Holmes*, p. 161; *BAL* 8732. A beautiful, very near fine copy.

Item #91863

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Item #91863 Boylston Prize Dissertations for the Years 1836 and 1837. Oliver Wendell HOLMES.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
birth name: Oliver Wendell Holmes
born: 8/29/1809
died: 10/7/1894

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Biography

American physician, poet, and humorist chiefly remembered for a few poems and for his "Breakfast-table" series of essays. - Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literaturemore