J.E.B. Stuart's Personal Manuscript Album of Original Poetry and Prayers. Penned in Stuart's youth, the entries range from 1850 to 1857 with the majority dated from 1850 to 1855. They span his tenure at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his first commission and assignment in Texas with the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen. The album contains thirty-two poems and three original ink drawings signed by Stuart as "J.E.B.", two entries signed as "J.E.B. Stuart", and a few additional entries presumably by friends of Stuart. The first page of the album opens with a preface from Stuart. It reads, in full: "This album is the sacred repository of a few contributions original and selected by some of my college companions while a student at Emory & Henry College Virginia, as pledges of their esteem when the owner left its halls to enter the Military Academy at West Point N.Y. in 1850. Since that time it has not been used exclusively as an album but as sketch book, and a place for jotting down some of the offspring of his own pen suggested by different circumstances and occasions, and also the receptacle of a few selections, suiting his fancy. As such it is a book private in its character and personal in its object. As it has followed me wherever I have gone since 1850, my companion in Scouts on the Northwestern frontier of Texas, in one of which it narrowly escaped being burnt, as the valise in which I kept it and all my clothes were consumed by the Prairie's catching on fire. I have deemed it proper to write this preface in order that should the book ever fall in others' hands, its ownership might be known and its character not misunderstood. J.E.B. Stuart Lieut. R.M.R / Camp Stuart Texas Feby. 17th 1855." The majority of the poems are dated, written in ink, and include their place of composition. They were written from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; "the Steamer Trabue on the Mississippi River"; Alleghany Springs and Wytheville, Virginia; North Carolina; St. Louis; and the following three camps in Texas: Camp Seclusion, Camp Stuart and Camp on the Jolly River. A few entries worthy of highlight include: "A Prayer", Alleghany Springs, Virginia; September 10, 1854. A prescient and melancholy poem in two stanzas. A note from Stuart below the title reads, "Written in back of my Prayer book." He writes, in full: "O! God! Where'er my footsteps stray / O'er prairies far or battle's din / Still keep them in thy holy way / And cleanse my soul from ev'ry sin / Lord! When the hour of death shall come / And from this clay my soul release / O! grant that I may have a home / In thy abode of endless peace". "To –", West Point, New York; December 25, 1853. An acrostic poem in three stanzas which spells out the name of Mary Custis Lee. She was the daughter of Robert E. Lee and sister to Stuart's close friend, G. W. Custis Lee. Robert E. Lee was superintendent of West Point during Stuart and Custis's tenure there and Stuart became close with the family. Mary Custis Lee is mentioned in several poems throughout the album. "Lines Addressed to a pressed Geranium leaf", West Point; November 1853. Six stanzas written on the opposite page of a pressed Geranium leaf. The leaf in question has been signed "M.B.P. / 1851" and may be a reference to one of his sweethearts, Mary Pegram. The corresponding poem reads, in part: "It points to her whose image fair...- I loved them once I prize them still. / 'Mong the few treasures of the past / This faded leaflet ever will / Be dearest prized, - forgotten last." "West Point", West Point, New York; April 22, 1854. An expansive eight-page poem dedicated to Mary Custis Lee. "The Dream of Youth", North Carolina; August 5, 1854. A three-page poem "affectionately inscribed to my sister Victoria." At the bottom left corner of the third page is a brownish thumbprint stain to which Stuart has written "My Blood / Mar 8th 1855." Other assorted titles include: "The Mesmeriser" (with dedication to Miss Minnie B.), "The Advent of Furlough," "To Mary," "Lines – Written in Mary's Album," "To Miss Mary Joyner Kerr of N. Carolina," "Lines in Answer to a Valentine supposed to be written by Miss Agnes L.," "To Miss Emily of West Point," "Lines sent to a Lady with a box of prunes," "Lines Respectfully dedicated to Miss XXXX - A Tale of Romance," "Benny Havens Oh! – A Song of West Point," "Lines for a Lady's Album in St. Louis," "To Bettie," "For the One I Love – Lines Written on leaving the States to join my Regiment in Texas," "Lines Respectfully inscribed to the Misses Crockett of Bowling Green Virginia," "To the One I Love," and "Lines on the death of my Dear Sister Columbia L. Hairston". The album also contains approximately a dozen additional entries by friends and family, the majority of which were written in 1850 at Emory and Henry College upon Stuart's admittance to the U.S. Military Academy. These titles usually reference Stuart with some examples being: "To Jim on leaving College," "To Beaut," and "To my friend J.E.B. Stuart." Among these is a dedication at the beginning of the album from "Jno. S. Cocke" which reads, in part, "This volume is a consecrated thing, / To all that youthful memory holds most dear. / Ne'er to its pages empty offerings bring, / But gift, from generous hearts in love sincere." A few other names listed within are S. Drake Sanders, A. K. Fulton, David H. Haynes, G. P. Straley, "Cadet Pvt. Colquitt," "J.M.F.," "Kate," "Fannie," "Josephine," and "Dutch.". In addition to Emory and Henry College, these were penned from Bowling Green, Virginia, Wytheville, Virginia, Columbia, South Carolina and West Point, New York. The album itself was published by J.C. Riker of New York. Octavo (6.25" x 7.5"). With original black paper boards backed in black leather with gilt stamped illustration to spine, and all edges gilt. Printed title page reads "ALBUM" with an engraving by A. L. Dick. Approximately sixty pages, with the greater part filled out on recto and verso, and with nine hand colored or black and white illustrations, three of which were drawn by Stuart himself and initialed in ink. Housed in a custom gray cloth chemise and matching slipcase with gilt stamped black faux leather label to spine. The album has been privately printed as a facsimile reproduction titled, J.E.B. Stuart: Poems and Prayers of Love and Friendship 1850-1857. His Personal Album, Expressing Thoughts and Sentiments of Stuart and Those Who Loved Him. [Jacksonville, Florida: Smith & Daniel Marketing, 1997]. Limited to 1,000 copies, and in brown boards with gilt stamping to the front board. Two copies of the reproduction are included in this lot. Condition: Joints worn, but holding. Spine worn and rubbed with 2.25" loss at head of spine. Boards rubbed and worn with minor edgewear. Scorch marks from the prairie fire Stuart mention's in his preface appear on the bottom edge of album and extend into the margin and through the book, but do not affect the legibility of text. Light scattered foxing and staining internally. The two reproduction copies are in near fine condition. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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