JOHN BURROUGHS - COLLECTION - HFSID 270860

JOHN BURROUGHS
Naturalist John Burroughs wrote this letter in pencil from New York City, saying that he was sic with the flu and malaria and asking the recipient for a $250 fee for one of his pieces because "I have earned no money this winter".
Autograph letter signed: "John Burroughs", 1p, 4½ x 7½ (visible). Matted to 11¾x10½ in an off-white matte with a 3¼x4¾ b/w bust engraving of Burroughs. Dated "Mch 5", New York City. In full: "Dear Mr Turner I am here on my back at the house of my friends the Roulands. - have been here since Monday. I was sick at Hobart with Grip [sic] & Malaria for two weeks, I am better & on my way to Atlantic City. Hope to be able to do on Monday. In the meantime I am short of ready cash, Could you send me whole or a part of the balance of $250 due on the [illegible]. It would be an accommodation I have earned no money this winter. Call around and see [illegible] Yours as ever". John Burroughs (1837-1921) was a naturalistand 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 toned. Letter is lightly creased. Tape repairs on verso of letter show through and touch handwriting but not signature. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.