The Story of My Life.

KELLER, Hellen.

Item Number: 95119

Garden City: Doubleday, Dorian & Company, Inc, 1935.

Early printing of Keller’s autobiography of her early life, particularly detailing her relationship with Anne Sullivan. Octavo, original cloth, engraved frontispiece portrait of Keller after a photograph by Marshall, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Helen Keller on the front free endpaper, “William Boyle, may all the voyages of your life end happily Helen Keller.” Laid in as an autograph letter signed by Keller and entirely in her hand which reads, “To: William Boyle You have done much to make the voyage a pleasant one Helen Kleer October, 10th 1935.” Rare a desirable signed and inscribed by Keller.

Helen Keller became a well-traveled lecturer, activist, and prolific writer despite the rare illness she contracted at 19 months of age which left her both blind and deaf. Much of Keller's success was attributed to the 49-year relationship she had with governess and companion Anne Sullivan who initially taught Keller to communicate by spelling words into her hand. In 1904, at the age of 24, Keller graduated from Radcliffe College of Harvard University, becoming the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. She went on to become a world-famous speaker and author, best remembered for her work as an advocate for persons with disabilities, the deaf community, and women's suffrage.