Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters, and Journals Value Guide

This posthumous collection, edited by Ednah D. Cheney, serves as a definitive primary source for understanding the author behind 'Little Women'. It is highly collectible for its intimate inclusion of Alcott's personal diary entries and correspondence that detail her struggles as a 19th-century independent woman.

What affects the value of Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters, and Journals?

• The physical condition of the cloth binding, specifically the preservation of the gilt spine lettering.
• The presence of the original tissue guard over the frontispiece portrait.
• Structural integrity, including the tightness of the hinges and the absence of foxing on the internal pages.
• Provenance or historical signatures that link the copy to notable 19th-century literary circles.

How to Identify Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters, and Journals?

• Verify the publisher is Roberts Brothers, Boston, with a copyright date of 1889.
• Look for the distinctive embossed cloth cover, typically featuring a portrait of Alcott or ornate Victorian gilt lettering.
• Confirm the presence of the frontispiece portrait of Louisa May Alcott and illustrations of her home, Orchard House.
• Check for the 1889 or 1890 date on the title page to ensure it is a first or early edition.

History of Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters, and Journals

Published posthumously, this volume offers an intimate look into the life of Louisa May Alcott, best known for her novel 'Little Women'. Compiled and edited by her lifelong friend Ednah D. Cheney, it includes personal correspondence and diary entries that reveal her thoughts on her writing, family, and the social issues of her time, providing invaluable insight into the creation of her beloved works and her struggles as an independent woman in the 19th century.