Americana

Tarbell, Ida. [Abraham Lincoln]

The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Drawn from Original Sources and Containing Many Speeches, Letters and Telegrams Hitherto Unpublished.

New York : The Doubleday & McClure Co., 1900.

First Special Illustrator’s edition of the work that earned Tarbell a national reputation as a major writer and the leading authority on Abraham Lincoln. Quarto, two volumes, half cloth over paper-covered boards, illustrated, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Lincoln to each volume. One of only 75 numbered copies printed, this is number 51. In near fineContinue reading "The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Drawn from Original Sources and Containing Many Speeches, Letters and Telegrams Hitherto Unpublished."

[Abraham Lincoln] George Bissell

Bust of Abraham Lincoln.

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Patinated bronze cast of Abraham Lincoln by George Bissell, one of only three commissioned by Ralph Newman for THE USS AL. Boldly signed by the artist in the back Geo. E. Bissell Sc. George Bissell was an important American sculptor working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He produced two full length statuesContinue reading "Bust of Abraham Lincoln."

Marshall, John. [George Washington]

The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces, During the War Which Established the Independence of His Country, and First President of the United States. [WITH] The Life of George Washington: Maps and Subscriber’s Names.

Philadelphia : C.P. Wayne, 1804-1807.

First edition, first issue of the first biography of George Washington with the scarce atlas volume and list of subscribers. Octavo, six volumes, bound in full contemporary tree calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece portrait of Washington to volume I. With the scarce atlasContinue reading "The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces, During the War Which Established the Independence of His Country, and First President of the United States. [WITH] The Life of George Washington: Maps and Subscriber’s Names."

Fish, Daniel. [Abraham Lincoln]

Lincoln Bibliography: A List of Books and Pamphlets Relating to Abraham Lincoln.

New York : Francis D. Tandy Company, 1906.

First edition and signed, registered, and numbered edition of the first comprehensive bibliography of Lincoln material. Octavo, original cloth, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece portrait of Lincoln after the original etching by Thomas Johnson. One of seventy-five numbered, registered copies signed by the author and publisher, only forty of which were for sale, this is number 34.Continue reading "Lincoln Bibliography: A List of Books and Pamphlets Relating to Abraham Lincoln."

Freeman, Frederick

The History of Cape Cod: The Annals of Barnstable County and of Its Several Towns. Including the District of Mashpee.

Boston : Printed For the Author, 1858-1863.

First edition of the classic history of Cape Cod. Octavo, ten parts as issued bound into four volumes in half morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine, illustrated with tissue-guarded engravings. In near fine condition.

Ropes, John Codman

The Story of the Civil War: A Concise Account of the War in the United States of America Between 1861 and 1865: The Campaigns of 1862.

New York and London : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1898.

First edition of Ropes’ account of the American Civil War. Octavo, original boards, illustrated with maps and plans, with 13 folding maps for Vol II in a pocket affixed to the front pastedown. In good condition. Ex-library.

Johnson, Rossiter

The Story of a Great Conflict: A History of the War of Secession. 1861-1865.

New York : Bryan, Taylor & Co, 1894.

Second edition of  Johnson’s authoritative work on the American Civil War.  Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt, illustrated. In good condition.

Church, Albert Cook

Whale Ships and Whaling.

New York : W. W. Norton & Co., 1938.

First edition of Church’s work on the history of whaling. Octavo, bound in full gilt-decorated morocco, illustrated with numerous photographs of whaling operations at sea and whaleship plans, pictorial endpapers reproducing two facing pages from the logbook of whaler Royal William dated 1834. In fine condition.

Report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, at the Second Session Thirty-Eighth Congress.

Washington : Government Printing Office, 1865.

First edition of Vol. III the Official Congressional Report on the American Civil War. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition.

Ayer, I. Winslow

The Great Treason Plot in the North During the War. Most Dangerous, Perfidious, Extensive and Startling Plot Ever Devised! Imminent Hidden Perils of the Republic. Astounding Developments Never Before Published.

Chicago : U.S. Publishing Co, n.d..

Early printing of Ayer’s Civil War account. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. In good condition.

King Jr., Martin Luther

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1958.

First edition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s first book. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Martin Luther King, Jr. on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with light rubbing, name to the front pastedown. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell.

Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown

Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue.

Gaithersburg, MD : Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990.

First edition of Hunt and Brown’s monumental compilation of biographical sketches of Union brevet brigadier generals in the Civil War. Quarto, original cloth decorated in gilt, profusely illustrated with portraits. In fine condition.

Journal of the United States In Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings From the Sixth Day of November, 1786, to the Fifth Day of November, 1787. Volume XII.

New York : Published by Order of Congress, 1787.

Rare first edition of Vol. VII of the Journal of Congress; containing the first official Congressional Journal publication of the proposed Constitution of the United States. Octavo, original boards. Contains the first Congressional Journal publications of the proposed United States Constitution (pp. 149-166) and the Northwest Ordinance (pp. 85-93). In very good condition. Small lossContinue reading "Journal of the United States In Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings From the Sixth Day of November, 1786, to the Fifth Day of November, 1787. Volume XII."

Chesterfield, Lord. [Alexander Hamilton; Elizabeth Hamilton]

Lord Chesterfield’s Letters.

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Eighteenth century printing of Lord Chesterfield’s Letters from the library of Alexander Hamilton with his wife, Elizabeth’s ownership signature. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt ruling to the spine, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Signed by Elizabeth Hamilton on the first page of text. In good condition. Rare and desirable, booksContinue reading "Lord Chesterfield’s Letters."

Nott, Charles C

Sketches of the War: A Series of Letters to the North Moore Street School of New York.

New York : Anson D. F. Randolph, 1865.

Second edition of Charles Cooper Nott Sr.’s Civil War memoir. Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt, top edge gilt. In very good condition.

Sherman, William T

Memoirs of William T. Sherman.

New York : D. Appleton and Company, 1875.

First edition of this memoir from one of the most well regarded generals, “oft-consulted and much-quoted reminiscences … Sherman wrote as he fought; dynamically and bluntly” (Nevins II, 89). Octavo, bound in publishers three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by General Sherman three times: on theContinue reading "Memoirs of William T. Sherman."

Boorstin, Daniel [William Safire]

United States Constitution.

Cambridge : Welch, Bigelow, and Company, 1987.

First edition of the Constitution published for the bicentennial of its adoption in 1787. Octavo, original wrappers. Association copy, inscribed by Daniel Boorstin on the title page, “For Bill and Helene with love from Dan Sept 7, 1987.” The recipient, William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter and a closeContinue reading "United States Constitution."

King Jr., Martin Luther

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story.

London : Victor Gollancz, 1958.

First British edition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s first book. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Foreword by Trevor Huddleston.

Day, Thomas

Reflections Upon the Present State of England, and the Independence of America.

London : Printed for J. Stockdale, 1783.

Third edition of Day’s important treatise on American Independence. Octavo, bound in paper wrappers. In very good condition. Uncommon in this condition.

[Tucker, Josiah]

A Series of Answers to Certain Popular Objections, Against Separating from the Colonies, and Discarding Them Entirely: Being the Concluding Tract of the Dean of Glocester, on the Subject of American Affairs.

London : Printed by R. Raikes and Sold by T. Cadell, 1776.

First and only edition of this important Revolutionary tract in which Tucker advocates granting the colonies independence. Octavo, bound in paper wrappers. Sabin 97360. In very good condition with restoration to the extremities of the first few leaves.

Johnson, Lyndon B. [

Selected Presidential Addresses of Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965.

[Washington, D.C.] 1965.

Fine collection of the major addresses of the 36th president of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. Octavo, 8 volumes, original wrappers. Laid in is a typed letter on White House letterhead signed by Johnson’s Special Assistant W. Marvin Watson which reads in full: December 10, 1965 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Finn: As historians beginContinue reading "Selected Presidential Addresses of Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965."

[Shaw, Robert Gould; Ralph Waldo Emerson; Harriet Beecher Stowe; James Russell Lowell; et al]

Memorial.

Cambridge : University Press, 1864.

First edition of this scarce volume dedicated to the commander of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Robert Gould Shaw, with contributions by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, William Lloyd Garrison, Edwin M. Stanton, and James Russell Lowell and with extracts from Colonel Shaw’s letters. Octavo, original publisher’s half leather over red boards with giltContinue reading "Memorial."

[Beecher, Henry Ward; Newman Hall; Dwight L. Moody; Charles Spurgeon; Henry van Dyke; et al]

19th and 20th Century American Clergymen Autograph and Signed Letter Collection.

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Extensive collection of over forty cards and letters signed by a number of prominent 19th and 20th century American Clergymen including Henry Ward Beecher, Henry van Dyke, Charles Spurgeon, and Dwight L. Moody. The collection includes: an autograph letter dated January 25 1866 signed by Henry War Beecher; four typed letters and on autograph letterContinue reading "19th and 20th Century American Clergymen Autograph and Signed Letter Collection."

Morrison’s Strangers Guide and Etiquette, For Washington City and Its Vicinity.

Washington : W. H. & O. H. Morrison, 1862.

Fifth edition of Morrison’s classic American etiquette guide. Octavo, original cloth elaborately stamped in blind with gilt titles to the front panel. Illustrated with wood and steel engravings, entirely re-written and brought down to the present time. In near fine condition. Ownership inscriptions.