HOUSMAN, A. E. A Shropshire Lad. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. Ltd. 1896. First edition, with the spine label in the first state (state "A"). One of fewer than 350 copies in this state: the first edition consisted of 500 copies, of which 150 were exported to the United States. Carter and Sparrow and White 2. Hayward 305. Signed by Housman on the half-title page, and with two autograph letters from Housman on his Trinity College Cambridge letterhead, April 15th and 20th, 1931, to a Mrs. Beattie, the first agreeing to sign her copy of A Shropshire Lad and the second returning the book to her: "I have written my name as I promised; but I have not added any embellishments...." A Shropshire Lad, one of the most famous and endearing volumes of English poetry, was printed at the poet's expense after the manuscript was rejected by Macmillan. Small 8vo, original parchment backed boards with printed label on spine. Bookplates of Frank J. Hogan, Estelle Doheny, and J. O. Edwards, spine label and covers rubbed, otherwise a very good copy, in a navy blue half-morocco slipcase. Signed copies of <PI>A Shropshire Lad<P> are extremely rare