Description
First edition, first printing of The President’s Daughter by Nan Britton, with the scarce first state dust jacket.
Octavo, v, [3], 399pp. Black cloth, title in gilt on spine and front cover. The first printing, with matching dates on the title and copyright page, with the “Six Burley Men” notice preceding title page. Solid text block, free of any marks or notations. Includes the frontispiece portrait and numerous photographic plates. Faint toning along leafends, a near fine example. In the publisher’s first state dust jacket, white flaps, a few small closed tears along rear panel, a bright, near fine example. (Martin / Goehlert 7836)
Scarce in this condition.
The President’s Daughter marked the first time that a presidential mistress published her story for the public. Nan Britton (1896-1991) alleged in the book that President Warren G. Harding was the father of her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Blaesing. With Harding’s untimely death in 1923, he was unable to personally confirm or deny the scandal, but his family denied the allegation for years. In 2015, Britton’s claim was confirmed using DNA testing. Nan Britton died in 1991 and her daughter, Elizabeth, died in 2005.
