The Song of Hiawatha Value Guide

This 1898 edition of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 'The Song of Hiawatha' represents a significant era in American publishing by Hurst & Company. As an epic poem detailing the life of an Indigenous hero, it remains a cornerstone of 19th-century literary history and a sought-after piece for collectors of classic Americana.

What Is The Song of Hiawatha Worth?

The typical price range for The Song of Hiawatha is $50 - $70 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the cloth binding, particularly looking for wear at the spine ends and corners.
• The presence of foxing, tanning, or brittleness of the paper pages, which affects the $50-$70 price range.
• The integrity of the binding and whether the cardboard covers remain firmly attached to the text block.
• The cleanliness of the internal pages, including the absence of previous owner inscriptions or heavy ink staining.

How to Identify The Song of Hiawatha?

• Look for the 'Hurst & Company, New York' imprint clearly displayed on the title page.
• Verify the 1898 era-appropriate cloth binding and cardboard construction typical of late Victorian mass-market editions.
• Check for the specific trochaic tetrameter rhythm throughout the text, which is the signature meter of Longfellow's epic.
• Confirm the presence of the full narrative detailing Hiawatha's life and his ultimate departure to the land of the hereafter.

History of The Song of Hiawatha

'The Song of Hiawatha' is an 1855 epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem features an Indigenous American hero, Hiawatha, and details his life, adventures, and ultimate departure to the land of the hereafter. Longfellow drew on ethnological notes and legends, particularly those recorded by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, for inspiration. Despite some initial criticism regarding its meter and authenticity, the poem became immensely popular, influencing art, music, and literature, and remains a significant work in American literary history.