Martin Hartzold, bookseller

Generalist concern with ever-developing specialties in automobilia, vernacular photography, and the Midwest. A few items presented here, though most material offered via periodic e-lists and catalogs sent directly to our email list.

  • Shop
  • THE SORRY TALE: A Story of the Time of Christ [Association Copy]

THE SORRY TALE: A Story of the Time of Christ [Association Copy]

$400.00
3756.jpg

THE SORRY TALE: A Story of the Time of Christ [Association Copy]

$400.00

An intriguing association copy of the first Patience Worth book. A curious figure and early 20th Century publishing 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. This copy with a lengthy inscription from the book's editor, Casper S. Yost, to Elizabeth "Bessie" Morse founder of St. Louis' Morse School of Expression and recorded attendee of Curran's early channeling sessions. 

WORTH, Patience. THE SORRY TALE: A Story of the Time of Christ. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1917. First Edition. 644pp. Approximately 8 1/4" x 5 3/4." Black cloth over boarads wtih publisher's gilt decoration to front, spine. Lacking dust jacket. INSCRIBED BY THE EDITOR to first blank endpage: "MY DEAR BESS: / MAY YOU FIND THE HOUSE OF / SILAS AND LEARN THEREIN THE FULL WISDOM / OF WANTING. MAY YOU LEARN THAT LOVE / EVER CONQUERS DEATH, AND THAT HOWEVER / VAST THE DESERT THERE COMES A TIME / WHEN THE PALMS WAVE. "IT SHALL BE." / CASPER S. YOST." Gilt lightly dulled at front, near entirely at spine. Tiny bit of corner bumping, otherwise sound, clean. Thin split beginning at inner, front hinge. Overall very good.

Add To Cart

An intriguing association copy of the first Patience Worth book. A curious figure and early 20th Century publishing 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. This copy with a lengthy inscription from the book's editor, Casper S. Yost, to Elizabeth "Bessie" Morse founder of St. Louis' Morse School of Expression and recorded attendee of Curran's early channeling sessions. 

WORTH, Patience. THE SORRY TALE: A Story of the Time of Christ. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1917. First Edition. 644pp. Approximately 8 1/4" x 5 3/4." Black cloth over boarads wtih publisher's gilt decoration to front, spine. Lacking dust jacket. INSCRIBED BY THE EDITOR to first blank endpage: "MY DEAR BESS: / MAY YOU FIND THE HOUSE OF / SILAS AND LEARN THEREIN THE FULL WISDOM / OF WANTING. MAY YOU LEARN THAT LOVE / EVER CONQUERS DEATH, AND THAT HOWEVER / VAST THE DESERT THERE COMES A TIME / WHEN THE PALMS WAVE. "IT SHALL BE." / CASPER S. YOST." Gilt lightly dulled at front, near entirely at spine. Tiny bit of corner bumping, otherwise sound, clean. Thin split beginning at inner, front hinge. Overall very good.