Description
First edition of The United States’ Naval Chronicle by Charles Washington Goldsborough, inscribed by his son to future Rear Admiral Thomas O. Selfridge.
Tall octavo, 395pp, xii, [1]. One quarter calf, blue paper boards, title in gilt on morocco label affixed to spine. Edges untrimmed. Solid text block, faint foxing reserved to endpapers. This piece is listed as Volume I on the title page, but was ultimately the only volume published by Goldsborough. Inscribed on the front fly leaf: “Presented to Lieutenant T.O. Selfridge by his friend. L.M. Goldsborough. 1st September 1843.”
A nice example of an essential piece in the narrative of the United States Navy.
Louis M. Goldsborough (1805-1877) was a member of the frigate United States at the time of this inscription. Throughout his lengthy naval career, Goldsborough served in the Mexican-American War, worked as superintendent of the US Naval Academy, and reached the rank of rear admiral during the Civil War.
Thomas O. Selfridge (1804-1902) began his naval career as a midshipman in 1818 at the age of 13. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1827 and later took command of the USS Dale in May 1847. After being wounded in the capture of Guaymas during the Mexican-American war, Selfridge was invalided home in June 1848. He continued to serve in the Navy at the Boston Navy Yard and later commanded the USS Mississippi on blockade duty during the Civil War. He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on the retired list on July 25, 1866.
