Chetlain, Augustus L

Recollections of Seventy Years.

Galena : The Gazette Publishing Company, 1899.

First edition of Major General Chetlain’s Civil War memoir. Octavo, original cloth, patterned endpapers, frontispiece portrait. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Eugene F. Estey Esg. with the best wishes of the author.” In near fine condition. Uncommon in this condition and signed.

Young, Jesse Bowman

What A Boy Saw in the Army: A Story of Sight-Seeing and Adventure in the War for the Union.

New York : Hunt & Eaton, 1894.

First edition of Young’s account of his experiences as a soldier boy in the armies of the Union. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. In very good condition.

Stephens, Alexander H

A Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States; It’s Causes, Character, Conduct and Results. Presented in a Series of Colloquies at Liberty Hall.

Philadelphia : National Publishing Company, 1868.

First edition of the “most elaborate—and best—argument for the constitutional validity of the doctrine of state sovereignty and the right of secession” (Howes), featuring 16 full-page steel engraved portraits, several facsimiles and a map of Manassas. Octavo, two volumes bound in full cloth with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, illustrated with 16 full-page steelContinue reading "A Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States; It’s Causes, Character, Conduct and Results. Presented in a Series of Colloquies at Liberty Hall."

Porter, Horace. [Ulysses S. Grant]

Campaigning with Grant.

New York : The Century Co., 1897.

First edition of Horace Porter’s Civil War memoir. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with portraits and maps. In good condition. First editions are rare.

Morton, Joseph W., editor

Sparks From the Camp Fire, Tales of the Old Veterans.

Philadelphia : Keystone Publishing Co., 1895.

New and revised edition of this collection of Civil War memoirs. Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt, patterned endpapers, illustrated. From the library of Michael Ellsworth Shoemaker, son of William Shoemaker wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3rd 1864 with his ownership inscription. In good condition.

Stine, J.H

History of the Army of the Potomac.

Washington, D.C. : Privately Printed, 1893.

Second edition of Stine’s history of the the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Octavo, original cloth, patterned endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the flyleaf, “With the compliments of the author to a personal friend C.A. Fromm… J.H. Stine.” In very good condition. Rare.

Kerbey, Joseph Orton

On the War Path: A Journey Over the Historic Grounds of the Late Civil War.

Chicago : Donahue, Henneberry & Co., 1890.

First edition of the Civil War Union spy’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Harriet Beecher Stowe Carte-de-Visite and Signed Card.

New York : E & H.T. Anthony, .

Rare original carte-de-visite of the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, accompanied by a small notecard inscribed by her, “Truly yours HB Stowe.” In near fine condition. The carte-de-visite measures 4 inches by 2.5 inches. The note measures 3.25 inches by 1.75 inches.

Monroe, James

Message From the President of the United States Stating the Interpretation Which Has Been Given To The Act Entitled “An Act in Addition to the Acts Prohibiting the Slave Trade. [with] A Report of the Committee to Whom was Referred So Much of the President’s Message, of the 7th of December last, as relates to the Suppression of the Slave Trade.

Washington, D.C : Printed by Gales & Seaton, 1819-1826.

Two rare printed pamphlets regarding President James Monroe’s position on the prohibition of the Slave Trade. Octavo. In very good condition. Rare.

[Stanton, Edward M.; George B. McClellan]

Letter of The Secretary of War, Transmitting Report on the Organization of the Army of the Potomac, and of Its Campaigns in Virginia and Maryland, Under the Command of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, From July 26, 1861, to November 7, 1862.

Washington : Government Printing Office, 1864.

First edition of Stanton’s official report on the organization and campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition.

Tocqueville, Alexis Charles Henri Clérel. Translated by Henry Reeve

Democracy in America.

London : Saunders and Otley, 1835.

First edition in English of Tocqueville’s magnum opus. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in three quarters period calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, half-titles, folding engraved map. In very good condition. An attractive contemporary binding.

Adams, Henry

A Letter to American Teachers of History.

Washington, D.C. : Privately Printed at the Press of J. H. Furst Co. Baltimore, 1910.

First edition of Adams’ classic treatise on education. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Henry Adams at the conclusion of the introduction. From the library of Charles H. Rammelkamp, Jr. with his ownership signature to the front free endpaper. Charles H. Rammelkamp, Jr. was an American scientist and physician. He discovered that streptococcus can cause rheumaticContinue reading "A Letter to American Teachers of History."

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.

.

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.