A compelling association copy of the book which introduced the figure of Patience Worth to a world outside of the pages of the St. Louis Globe Democrat, a news daily of which the author was editor and where he had been publishing poems and pieces of short stories to increasing public interest since 1914. A curious figure and early 20th Century literary phenomenon, Worth was purportedly a spirit who channeled her writings one-letter-at-a-time through the Ouija board of a St. Louis woman named Pearl Curran. Her books sold prolifically in the 1910's and engaged rabid attention from fans and skeptics alike. 

This copy with a lengthy inscription from the author, who would go on to serve as primary editor for the Worth books, to Elizabeth "Bessie" Morse founder of St. Louis' Morse School of Expression and recorded attendee of Curran's early channeling sessions. 

YOST, Capser S. PATIENCE WORTH: A Psychic Mystery. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1916. First Edition. 290pp. plus four pages of publisher's ads at rear. Approximately 7 3/4" x 5 1/4." First edition with: "Published February, 1916" to copyright page. Publisher's decorated black cloth with gilt illustration to front, spine. Lacking dust jacket. INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR to first endpaper: "MY DEAR MISS BESSIE / MAY YOU FIND IN PATIENCE THAT / WHICH PATIENCE SEEKS TO GIVE AND TO / GIVE IN ABUNDANCE. / CASPER S. YOST / FEBRUARY 26, 1916." Spine gilt a bit dulled with a faint vertical crease down the center of spine cloth, otherwise sound, clean. About very good-plus.