Mabel Martin, Presentation Copy Signed by J. G. Whittier. This poetry book is titled "Mabel Martin, A Harvest Idyl", by John Greenleaf Whittier, it has beautiful engravings by a variety of artists, the book was published in Boston by James Osgood in 1876, and it is a presentation copy signed by Whittier himself. The book has gilt lettering and gilt designs on the spine, raised brown letters within black printed bands on the front cover, bevelled edges, dark endpapers, the front blank flyleaf inscribed "To Mary Claflin with the loving [ ] grown of being friends, John G. Whittier … 1876", a beautiful frontis of Mabel Martin by Mary Hallock protected by a tissue guard, then the title page, the copyright page, a note about the Witch's Daughter, which is how the story of Mabel Martin came about, a four-page list of Illustrations, including the names of the artists who did the engravings, then 72 pages of text, and all the edges are gilt. See BAL 21932. John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892) was an American Quaker poet and advocate for the abolition of slavery in the United States. Frequently listed as one of the Fireside poets, he was influenced by the Scottish poet Robert Burns and is remembered particularly for his anti-slavery writings, as well as his 1866 book "Snow-Bound". In 1857 Whittier wrote an early version of "Mabel Martin" called "The Witch's Daughter", It was published in a periodical called the Era and consisted of what was later to be Parts II - V of "Mabel Martin". The story was a fictional account of the marriage of Ezekiel Worthen and Hannah Martin, the step-daughter of Susanna Martin of Amesbury who was hanged as a witch in 1692. Susanna was a real person, and Ezekiel Worthen actually married Hannah Martin in 1661, thirty-one years before Susanna's trial and execution, and the story is not just about witchcraft, but the fate of Hannah's daughter, Mabel. Susannah Martin was one of fourteen women convicted and executed for practicing witchcraft during the Salem witch trials of colonial Massachusetts, or at least for being suspected of practicing witchcraft. The book measures 8 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. wide, with a tight binding and clean pages and text, and the engravings are very clean as well. There is wear at the heel and crown of the spine, along the vertical gutter of the front cover, there are brown marks on the front cover and wear at the tips. Still an attractive presentation copy book signed by Whittier, and we couldn't find any other copies signed by Whittier, let alone a presentation copy. #22 #7046