LINCOLN, Abraham.
Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen Douglas, In the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois.
“THE MOST IMPORTANT SERIES OF AMERICAN POLITICAL DEBATES”: RARE FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE OF THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES
Columbus: Follett, Foster and Company, 1860.
$5,500.00
In Stock
Item Number: RRB-145433
* Custom Clamshell Boxes are hand made by the Harcourt Bindery upon request and take approximately 60 days to complete
First edition, first issue of the most famous debates in American history which cemented Lincoln as a national presidential candidate. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind. First issue, with no rule above the publisher's imprint on the copyright page, no advertisements, and numeral 2 at the bottom of page 17. In very good condition with some loss to the crown and foot of the spine, light rubbing to the extremities, a few tiny closed tears to the top edge, bookplate to the front pastedown, ownership inscription to the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom folding chemise and half morocco slipcase.
Running as a little-known candidate for the Illinois senatorship in 1858, Lincoln challenged incumbent and Democratic leader Stephen Douglas to a series of debates. The result was a memorable chain of lively arguments in front of cheering crowds. Though Lincoln lost the senatorial race, “he began collecting a scrapbook of his best speeches, particularly those from the just-concluded campaign against Douglas, for possible inclusion in a book. Assiduously pasting newspaper accounts of the debates into the scrapbook, Lincoln cast about for a publisher. Initial efforts failed, mainly because Lincoln wanted the book printed in Springfield, which had no local publishing or printing facilities. Eventually, however, the Columbus, Ohio, firm of Follett, Foster & Company showed interest, and he began preparing the first edition… Somewhat surprisingly for an attorney, Lincoln did not seek Douglas’ permission to publish a book of their combined speeches, although Douglas was later given the last-minute opportunity—he declined—to make corrections to his own remarks” (Morris, 121).
Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen Douglas, In the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois.
$5,500.00
In Stock
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