Fac-simile of the original manuscript of The heathen Chinee : as written for the Overland monthly / by Francis Bret Harte ; together with the corrected letter press, as published in the issue of September, 1870.

Bret Harte's popular and widely read poem was originally intended as a parody of the widespread anti-Chinese prejudice which pervaded American society and political debates concerning immigration policy during his lifetime. With its defamatory depiction of the broadly stereotyped title character, however, the poem was quickly embraced for its racist sentiments, much to the author's dismay, by those oblivious to its satirical intent.
Title from wrapper.
Printed on rectos only.
At foot of title: Lith. Britton & Rey, S.F.