JOHN BURROUGHS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 4/5 - HFSID 27571

JOHN BURROUGHS
John Burroughs sends an autograph letter of apology that due to ill health he is no longer writing papers for the time being.
Autograph Letter Signed: "John Burroughs", 1p, 5½x6. West Park, New York, no year April 5. Begins: "Dear Mr. Holt". In full: "There is little probability that I shall be able to write the article you ask for, my health is such that I have ceased all library work for the spring at least. With many thanks I am Sincerely Yours". Born on his family's farm in Roxbury, New York on April 3, 1837, Burroughs, who died on a train returning from California (March 29, 1921), would be buried there on April 3, 1921, on what would have been his 84th birthday. American naturalist John Burroughs (1837-1921) was a prolific nature writer, penning over 243 essays on his association with birds, resulting in his nickname, "John o' Birds". A friend of Walt Whitman, Burroughs also wrote Notes on Walt Whitman as Poet and Person (1867), the first Whitman biography. In all, he penned 441 essays that were collected in 23 volumes. These works include Birds and Poets (1877), Literary Values (1902), Ways of Nature (1905) and Camping and Tramping with Roosevelt (1907). Lightly creased with folds, light diagonal crease at the upper loops of the "B", "g" and "h" of Burroughs. Slightly shaded at blank left margin. Minor paper loss at lower right blank edge, nicked at upper right edge. Tape remnant on verso lightly shows through at upper left blank margin. Overall, fine condition.