MOORE, Clement C. (1779-1863). Poems. New York: Bartlett & Welford, 1844. 8vo. [2, blank], 216, [2, blank] pp. Publisher's plain brown boards, rebacked to style in modern brown cloth and printed paper spine label. THE SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF MOORE'S FIRST BOOK APPEARANCE OF "A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS" PUBLISHED UNDER HIS NAME - A PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY MOORE ON THE HALF-TITLE: "Mrs De Kay with the respects of the author. Mar. 1846."

Recipient is Janet Drake de Kay; her daughter's (Helena's) faint pencil signature is on ffep., with her (daughter's) husband's bookplate ("R. W. Gilder," a poet and literary editor) on the bottom of the ffep. Janet Drake de Kay was the daughter of poet Joseph Rodman Drake, and was the mother of painter Helena de Kay Gilder. 

Boards edgeworn, soiled, hinges repaired (front hinge reinforced with tape), ffep. with tear near gutter at bottom, half-title has tear at lower half of gutter, several leaves with edgewear or mild chipping, text a bit toned with occasional thumbsoiling, endleaves toned and soiled, ffep. with chip. Still, a very good copy of this rarity.