The Romance of Yachting : Voyage the First
New York, NY: Harper & Brothers, 1848. First edition. Hardcover in green patterned cloth. Octavo. Gilt lettering to title and gilt nautical scene on cover. Some wear to edges and corners. Head and heel of spine bumped. Covers lightly scuffed. Some soiling to yellow endpapers. Former owner's name on free endpaper, and his card is attached to the pastedown. Slight soiling to page edges, more so at top. Endpapers heavily foxed, interior pages less so. 332 p. with additional 28 catalog pages of various paginations. A wide ranging memoir of the author's first yachting voyage across the Atlantic, with sea stories, colorful characters, historical anecdotes, and discussions of ports, women, yachting, Spain, bull fights and Shakespeare. This last digression is one of the first major pieces to question the Bard's authorship and authenticity. Melville, when asked to review Hart's book, thought little of the work: "You have been horribly imposed upon, My Dear Sir. The book is no book, but a compact bundle of wrapping paper. And as for Mr Hart, pen & ink should instantly be taken away from that unfortunate man, upon the same principle that pistols are withdrawn from the wight bent on suicide." Overall an entertaining and uneven work. Very Good. Item #10497
Price: $225.00