Description
First edition of Abraham Lincoln: A History by John G. Nicolay and John Hay, from the library of General William T. Sherman.
Octavo, [ten volumes]. Publisher’s green cloth, title stamped in gilt on the spine. Top edge gilt. Green paper endpapers. Frontispiece portrait with tissue cover in each volume. All ten volumes with light rubbing to tips of spine and boards, light shelf wear. Text blocks all sound, hinges stable. (Monaghan, 1071)
Provenance: The Sherman-Fitch Collection, Lot 51424-110, Fleischer’s Auction, 2024. This set was acquired by Philemon Sherman, after his father’s death in 1891, at which point the “W.T. Sherman, General” bookplate was added. The second bookplate was added by Sherman’s grandson, Tecumseh Sherman Fitch (1908-1969), who inherited the collection in 1942. Bookplates appear in each volume.
An exceptional Civil War association copy.
Nicolay and Hay began work on this epic history of Abraham Lincoln in 1874. They contacted Robert Todd Lincoln, the only surviving son of President Lincoln, for his permission to use Lincoln’s papers to write the books. By 1885 the work was shared with Robert Todd Lincoln and others, who offered some critiques. The books were sold door to door in 1890 at a price of $50.00 for the full set. It sold 7,000 copies, but was not a commercial success. In 1902, Nicolay wrote an abridged one-volume version, which sold well. (Eicher, 409)
