Description
From the library of President Chester A. Arthur, the first edition of Valentino: An Historical Romance, inscribed to Arthur by his Ambassador to Italy, William Waldorf Astor.
Octavo, viii, [1], 325pp, [5]. Brown-gray cloth, title stamped on the spine and front cover in gilt. No additional printings noted. Wear to tips of the spine, light dust along top edge of the text block. This copy includes the armorial bookplate of President Chester Arthur on the front pastedown.
Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to former President Chester Arthur, during his short post-presidential career in New York.
The inscription reads: “Honorable Chester A Arthur, with the cordial regards of the Author. W.W. Astor / New York / Dec 10, 1885.”
Go and enjoy yourself, my dear boy… President Arthur to William Waldorf Astor on his appointment as United States Ambassador to Italy in 1882.
William Waldorf Astor (1848-1919) was an American politician, diplomat, and financier from the prominent Astor family who served in the New York State Assembly in 1878 and later as U.S. Minister to Italy from 1882 to 1885.
