Description
First edition of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant.
Octavo, [two volumes], 584pp [Vol. I]; 647pp [Vol. II]. Publisher’s green cloth, title in gilt on spines, decorative gilt emblem on front covers. Period ownership inscription dated 1885. Light rubbing to cloth at lower edge of spines, faint shelf wear. An attempt was made to add gilt to top edge of text block, with over spray affecting the occasional page. Floral endpapers. Frontispiece portraits with tissue covers. Front hinge of Volume I reinforced with archival repairs, tape repair to endpapers. Back hinge of Volume II starting to separate. A complete set, illustrated with 43 maps and fold-out facsimile documents. Solid text block in both volumes, free of any marks or notations. (Dornbusch II 1986) (Eicher 492) An exceptionally bright and attractive set, with issues noted.
Published shortly after his death, the Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant are held in high regard by historians and casual readers alike. President Grant was initially opposed to writing his memoirs but wished to leave his family financially stable after his death. The books were sold in multiple formats ranging in price from $3.50 to $12.00 in 1885.
