Description
The Public Papers And Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, signed by President Roosevelt to Rep. Ralph E. Church of Illinois.
Thick octavo, [five volumes], xliii, 911pp; xxi, 622pp; xx, 564pp; xix, 675pp; xxiv, 721pp. Blue buckram, title printed on spine, light wear to gilt along the spine. The first state of the trade edition, with top edge dyed blue, and a facsimile signature in gilt on the front panel. In the publisher’s first state dust jackets, with $3.00 price on each volume, light wear at edges, a few short closed tears, uniform toning to spines, all very good examples. Housed in the publisher’s slipcase, title on spine affixed to label, soiling to panels, solid hinges.
(Halter T-657)
This set is inscribed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Volume I: “for Ralph E. Church / from his friend / Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
Rep. Ralph E. Church (1883-1950) represented Chicago’s North Shore suburbs in the U.S. House of Representatives across two stretches of service, from 1935 until his death in 1950. A lawyer by training, he had earlier served in the Illinois House of Representatives and was also a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Church died suddenly in Washington while appearing before a House committee; his widow, Marguerite Stitt Church, later succeeded him in Congress, serving until 1963.
