This lot consists of two autograph books from the 1870's, and the smaller autograph book contains the signature of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow from 1874 and a signature of Edward Everett Hale on a separate card that is undated, but probably from the 1870's as well. Longfellow was an American poet who wrote some of the most famous poetry America has ever enjoyed, and Edward Everett Hale (1822 - 1909) was pastor of the South Congregational Church in Boston for over forty years and chaplain of the U.S. Senate from 1903 until his death, and a prolific author of history and popular fiction; he is best remembered for his patriotic novel, Man Without A Country, published in 1863. The autograph book with Longfellow's signature belonged to Emma Merrill, a student at Girls' High School in Roxbury one of the oldest communities in Boston, and her autograph book was signed by over sixty people, many of them her classmates in the 1870's. Longfellow's signature is on a page all by itself, and it is signed "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1874" clear as a bell, and since Roxbury is only a few miles from Cambridge, where Longfellow lived, we're wondering if Longfellow gave a speech at Girls' High School in 1874. Edward Everett Hale's signature is on a separate card and reads "Lend a hand. Edward E. Hale". The second autograph book has over 120 autographs from the 1870's and includes the signature of Ulysses Grant Jr., the second son of Ulysses S. Grant, hero of the American Ciivl War and eighteenth President of the United States, and on the next page is the signature of Henry R. Grant, a pioneer college football player at Harvard University and the team's first captain; he lolled the game intramurally even before Harvard's first season in 1873. We don't know if Henry was related to Ulysses S. Grant or to Ulysses Grant Jr., but his autograph is right after the autograph of Ulysses Grant Jr. The book also has signatures of Richard H. Dana (1787 - 1879) an American poet and lawyer. His son, Richard Henry /dana Jr,. (1815 - 1862) was a famous Massachusetts lawyer and author who wrote Two Years Before The Mast and was champion of those in need, from seamen to fugitive slaves and freedmen, and we're not sure which Dana signed the book here, but it has to be one of them. The smaller autograph books with the Grant signatures measures 7 1/2 x 4 1/4 in. wide with a gilt decorated cover, bevelled edges, and silk moire endpapers, and is in very good condition, as are the autographs. The larger autograph book with the Longfellow signature and the separate Edward Everett Hale card measures 7 3/4 x 5 1/4 in. wide and has detached covers and an exposed spine, but the signatures and autographs are in top notch shape. They are not affected by the spine or the cover at all, and there are attractive drawings of a dog and a river landscape in the book as well. #12 #7023 Location Book Box 1