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The Life of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry

First edition of The Life of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry by Alex Slidell Mackenzie, from the private collection of Rear Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont.

Twelvemo, [two volumes], xii, [13], 14-322pp; viii, [9], 10-270pp. Three-quarter morocco, marbled paper covered boards. Marbled edges and endpapers. Title in gilt on decorative spine. No additional printings listed on spine. Solid text blocks, lightly bumped edges, some shelf wear, faint foxing to front leaves of each volume.

(Howes M134) (Moebs 157)

Commander (later Admiral) S.F. du Pont’s bookplate affixed to front endpaper of Volume I. Steel engraved frontispiece of Perry in Volume I, protected with tissue guard.

Alexander Slidell Mackenzie (1803-1848) was a U.S. Naval officer and avid writer. Mackenzie entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1815. In 1841, he was promoted to commander, assuming command of the USS Somers a year later. Upon hearing of a mutiny aboard his brig, Mackenzie arrested three men without proper legal power and decided to execute them at sea. Mackenzie was exonerated, but the controversial choice followed him for the remainder of his life.The previous owner, Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont was a member of the prominent Du Pont family. He served in the Mexican-American War, capturing the city of San Diego. After the war he became commandant of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and he studied the possibilities of steam power in ships. In 1861, he was given command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, the largest fleet ever commanded by a Naval Officer up to that time. His ill-advised and unsuccessful attack on Fort Sumter in April, 1863 lost him the confidence of Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, and Du Pont was relieved of command. He returned to Delaware and died in 1865. Du Pont Circle in Washington, DC was named in his honor.

African American Archive: Journals, Letters, Photographs

An expansive archive of letters and journals from an African American woman named Anna Jean Snowden of Dayton, Ohio.

This archive includes hundreds of letters related to the following people: her mother, Maria Josephine Snowden; her sister, Mrs. Lillian S. Bazley of Richmond, VA (Mrs. Bazley worked as a bookkeeper and succeeded Maggie L. Walker as the Right Worthy Grand Secretary of the Independent Order of St. Luke, following Mrs. Walker’s death in 1934); history professor George F. David of Wilberforce University; and students from around the country. Includes two journals from 1913 and 1914, detailing time spent in New York City. A composition book from Howard University, and a collection of 6 short stories, with critical comments by her professors. A unique archive, which looks into the family life and teaching history of an African American woman in the 1910s – 1940s.

Anna Jean Snowden (b. 1895 – unknown) was born in Lexington, KY and graduated from Chandler Normal School in 1910. Over the next few years, her family spent time in Dayton, Ohio and New York City. In 1914, Miss Snowden earned a diploma in Kindergarten Education from Howard University. Continuing her studies at Howard, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1916. After graduation, she was hired to teach English at Tuskegee University in Alabama. In the 1920s she taught at Georgia State College in Savannah, GA. It appears that she never married or had children. At various times, she stayed with family in Richmond, VA. In later life, she returned to Dayton, Ohio, teaching at Wilberforce University. It is not known if she remained in Dayton for the rest of her life or where she died.

The Times of My Life

The Times of My Life by Betty Ford, inscribed to Sammy Davis, Jr.

Octavo, xi, 305pp. Gilt title on spine. Beige cloth, title in gilt on spine. First edition, first printing, with full number line on copyright page. Red end papers. Publishers dust jacket, price clipped, near fine with vibrant illustrations, closed tear on back panel. Inscribed on front free end paper by first lady Betty Ford to music legend Sammy Davis Jr. and his wife.

Inscription reads: To Altovise and Sammy, You have given so much to so many and I am fortunate to have the privilege of knowing you both – Thank you for everything – You’re both super – with affection, Betty Ford. July 9 – 79.”

Comments: Sammy Davis Jr. was an American signer, musician and member of the notorious Rat Pack. He was a frequent visitor to the White House, being the first African American to be invited to sleep over during the Nixon Administration. Altovise was his third wife and passed away in 2009.

The Life Of George Washington – Commander In Chief Of The Armies Of The United States Of America, Throughout The War Which Established Their Independence; And First President Of The United States.

The second edition of The Life Of George Washington by David Ramsay, one of the first historians of the American Revolution. Octavo, viii, 370pp. Leather-bound copy, title in gilt over red label, gilt bands on spine. Worn binding along all edges. Occasional pencil marks throughout. Lacking frontispiece portrait. (Howes R-38).

Comments: David Ramsey is best remembered for his work called History of the American Revolution, one of the first histories of the America Revolution, published in 1789.

Posted on March 26, 2018December 18, 2020 by Ted Twyman

The Works of the Presidents

Top 10 Limited Edition Publications by U.S. Presidents

As a rare book firm specializing in Americana and specifically Presidential History, were often asked what is the “most valuable” book written by a President, or what is the “rarest work by a President?” That’s never an easy question but were always happy to show them some interesting items from the 1700s from President Jefferson or a book signed by President Obama, depending on the customer.

Since the time of President Theodore Roosevelt, publishers have been selling limited edition printings of their authors writings. This is done for financial purposes and to draw attention to the publication. It’s also a nice way to guarantee that you’re getting an authentic signature from a President.

To clarify, this list is not the Top-10 Rarest Presidential books nor is it the Top-10 signed books by Presidents.

Here are the Top-10 Signed Limited Editions by Presidents, ranked from most common to some of the most difficult to find:

#10 – Decision Points by President George W. Bush

Published in 2010 after leaving office, this signed limited edition has been produced over 4000 times. It was originally offered for $350 retail, but due to the overproduction of this book, it has not grown in value like many other presidential publications.

#9 – The Memoirs of Richard Nixon by President Richard Nixon

Published in 1978, Nixon’s memoirs were greeted by the public with skepticism. Many doubted that he would acknowledge wrongdoing in the Watergate affair. Part of his public relations initiative was to sign numerous limited-edition printings of his Memoirs. For the cloth edition of his memoirs from Grosset and Dunlap, it is unknown how many were signed by the former President.

#8 – All Easton Press Publications

This covers President Ford and President Carter, who were prolific signers with Easton Press. While a nice way to get an authentic item signed by a former President, they often don’t hold their retail purchase price upon resale.

#7 – An American Life by Ronald Reagan

Housed in an attractive oak display case, when released in 1990, this was the ultimate collector’s piece for Reagan aficionados. Limited to 2000 signed copies, this signed book commands the highest retail prices of any Reagan signed piece. Another work by former President Reagan, Speaking My Mind, was released the same year with 5000 signed copies available.

#6 – A History of the American People by Woodrow Wilson

Shortly after Wilson assumed the Presidency of Princeton University, this limited edition of 350 signed copies was released for the alumni of the university. A later limited edition of 400 copies, published in 1918, was also signed by President Wilson.

#5 – The Vantage Points by President Lyndon Johnson

President Johnson published his best-selling memoirs in 1971. Along with the release of the public edition, he also did a limited edition of 300 signed copies, mostly for support of the administration. Admirers of Johnson and collectors alike can occasionally find these books for sale, but they’re scarce and often show signs of wear since they were covered in red vellum.

#4 – Big Game Hunting by Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt will appear twice on our list. He was a prolific author, writing over 45 books during his lifetime. While not every publication received a limited edition signed printing, a few did, including African Game Trails (500 signed copies), Outdoor Pastimes of An American Hunter (260 signed copies) and Big Game Hunting In The Rockies and on The Great Plains (1000 copies). Big Game Hunting was published in 1899, shortly before Roosevelt was offered the post of Vice President under William McKinley.

#3 – Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter by Theodore Roosevelt

This limited-edition printing is the scarcest of all Theodore Roosevelt signed books. Published in 1905 during the height of his Presidency, new copies rarely appear on the market.

#2 – Crusade In Europe by Dwight D. Eisenhower

When published in 1948, 1426 signed copies of this book were produced with Eisenhower’s signature on the D-Day Order. In addition to the 1426 publicly available, a small number of copies were held back for the author’s personal use. These copies were bound in either blue morocco or red morocco, with an attractive flaming sword motif on the cover. The copies in red morocco were bound by the Gaston Pilon Bindery and pulled directly from the allotment of 1426 signed copies. There is some debate over how many red morocco copies were produced, with numbers ranging from 26-35, but regardless, to receive a copy in this presentation binding from General Eisenhower was a real honor. The blue morocco was from an even more limited run. According to early records, only 11 copies produced by the Whitman Bennett Bindery. The blue bound copies were not pulled from the limited edition of 1426. A truly unique piece of Presidential history.

#1 – The White House: An Historic Guide, signed by President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy

This book was signed in a limited edition of 95 copies and given as gifts to supporters in 1962. While maybe not the smallest limitation number of any publication, finding an authentic signature from President Kennedy has driven up their value tremendously over the years.

So there is the list. Agree? Did we miss anything that should have been included? Let us know!

Wings For Life

A signed first edition of Wings For Life by pioneering aviator Ruth Rowland Nichols.

Octavo, 317pp. Blue cloth spine, title in gilt on spine with decorative illustrations. Stated “first edition” on copyright page. In publishers near fine dust jacket, $3.95 on front flap, wear at edges but otherwise bright illustrations and vibrant colors. Inscribed by the author: “To Kamala Vars, With highest admiration of her piloting. Best wishes. Ruth Nichols (Oct. 26th, 1958).”

Ruth Rowland Nichols was an American aviation pioneer, beating Charles Lindbergh’s cross country air speed record in 1930 and the record for the longest distance flown by a woman in 1931. She attempted to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, but she crashed in New Brunswick. Along with Amelia Earhart, the media was captivated with her story, nicknaming her the “Flying Debutante,” a reference to her upbringing in New York social society. She died in 1960.

My Life On The Plains

General Custer’s memoirs of My Life On The Plains, a first edition copy.

Octavo, 256pp. Green cloth, title in gilt on spine, decorative gilt and tooling to the spine and front panel. Fully illustrated with 8 full page wood cut engravings, including frontispiece of Custer with tissue cover. A near fine copy, light shelf wear and edge wear, otherwise a very bright copy with a solid text block. (Howes C981)

Published in 1874 before the infamous “Last Stand” of General Custer at Little Big Horn, this work details his military exploits in the American Indian Wars. It’s considered a valuable piece of primary source information. The legend of General George Armstrong Custer was much of his own making, in that he was known to covet the media and encourage coverage of his military exploits. His legend was also cultivated after his death by his wife, Elizabeth Custer, who wrote Boots and Saddles (1885), Tenting on the Plains (1887) and Following the Guidon (1890).

Life and Liberty in America – Or, Sketches of a Tour In The United States And Canada In 1857-8. With Ten Illustrations

First edition of Life and Liberty in America by Charles Mackay. Octavo, viii, [9]-413pp, [2]. Brown cloth, title in gilt on spine. Complete with 10 full page illustration of early American scenes. Previous library bookplate affixed to front endpaper. (Howes M-118) A complete copy with attractive illustrations. Full descriptions of early Cincinnati and illustrations of the Longworth vineyard.

The Life And Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

First American Edition of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, in original wrappers.

Octavo, [20 Parts in 19], x, 624pp. In publisher’s original green printed wrappers, sewn at spine. Some parts have detached covers, all uncut and clean text. Title page and index found in Part 19/20. This work is usually found as a single volume set, with no record of this work appearing as a collection of imprints. Part I ends at page 24, with Part II beginning at Page 41. Errata slip in Part XIV, offering the “Publishers regret” that due to the sudden “indisposition of the artist,” the plates for this issue will be postponed by a month, dated April 30, 1839, London. Includes 36 full page illustrations. (Rinderknecht 55377) Housed in custom cloth clamshell case, title on morocco label on spine. A scarce set in the original wraps.

Life Of John Robert Monaghan: The Hero Of Samoa

First edition of Life of John Robert Monaghan: The Hero of Samoa by H.L. McCulloch.

Octavo, 415pp. Blue cloth, title in gilt on spine. Frontispiece portrait with tissue cover. Complete with 7 full page black and while photographs, and two maps. Clean text throughout, no extraneous marks or bookplates. A scarce history.

Privately printed by H.L. McCulloch as a tribute to the family and father of United States Navy Ensign John Robert Monaghan, who died while heroically attempting to save the lieutenant in charge of the American party put ashore in Samoa to disperse a renegade chieftain attempting to gain control of the country.

The Life Of Admiral Viscount Exmouth

From the library of Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, The Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth by Edward Osler.

Octavo, xii, 287pp. Contemporary three quarter calf, marbled boards, title in gilt on spine. Marbled endpapers with bookplate of S.F. Du Pont on front endpaper. Complete with frontispiece of Exmouth, a plate displaying a medal presented to Exmouth after the Battle of Algiers and a folding “Plan of Sea Defences at Algiers” lithographed by “N. Currier. No.1 Wall St. N.Y.” Currier opened his Wall Street office in 1835 and shortly after moved to 2 Spruce Street. This early lithograph is of such scarcity that it is not recorded in Conningham’s Currier & Ives Prints: An Illustrated Check List (New York, 1949). Some toning to title page, frontispiece and endpapers, clean text throughout. (Sabin 57797) An exceptional association copy.

Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont was a member of the prominent Du Pont family. He served in the Mexican-American War, capturing the city of San Diego. After the war he became commandant of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and he studied the possibilities of steam power in ships. In 1861, he was given command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, the largest fleet ever commanded by a Naval Officer up to that time. His ill advised and unsuccessful attack on Fort Sumter in April, 1863 lost him the confidence of Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, and Du Pont was relieved of command. He returned to Delaware and died in 1865. Du Pont Circle in Washington, DC was named in his honor.

The Life Of Napoleon Buonaparte

First American Edition of the Life of Napoleon Buonaparte: Emperor of the French, by Sir Walter Scott.

Octavo, [three volumes], xv, [17]-516pp; viii, [9]-399pp; viii, [9]-368pp, [lxix appendix]. In the publisher’s original cloth backed boards, title on label affixed to spine. Uncut edges. Frontispiece of Napoleon in Volume I. Varied foxing and toning throughout. Ownership inscription, dated 1828, from US Representative and Connecticut Supreme Court Justice, Thomas B. Butler. This set was donated to the Norwalk Lyceum and bears their label in each volume. (Shoemaker 35121) A scarce set in the publisher’s original paper boards.

My Life

Signed copy of My Life by Prime Minister Golda Meir.

Octavo, 480pp. Light blue cloth, title in gilt on spine. Stated “first American edition” on copyright page, but with Book Club Edition blind stamp on rear panel. Text block sound, faint toning along top edge of text block. In a book club edition dust jacket, near fine, light wear at spine, otherwise a fine example. Signed on the front free endpaper: “To Ruth Berryman, With best wishes. Golda Meir. Jan. 8, 1976.”

Golda Meir (1898-1978) served as the 4th Prime Minister of Israel. She remains the only woman elected as Prime Minister of Israel. She served from 1969-1974, resigning after the Yom Kippur War. She was succeeded by Yitzhak Rabin.

My Life On The Plains

First edition of the memoirs of General George A. Custer, My Life On The Plains, published in 1874.

Octavo, 256pp. Green cloth, title in gilt on spine, decorative gilt and black stamping to the spine and front panel. Previous ownership stamp on front free endpaper. Fully illustrated with 8 full page woodcut engravings, including frontispiece of Custer with tissue cover. Frontispiece is tipped-in after the copyright page, possibly a printing error. A near fine copy, some edgewear and wear from handling at spine. A bright example with a solid text block. (Howes C981) (Graff 961) (Tal Luther 7)

Published in 1874 before the infamous “Last Stand” of General Custer at Little Big Horn, this work details Custer’s military exploits in the American Indian Wars. It’s considered a valuable piece of primary source information. The legend of General George Armstrong Custer was much of his own making, in that he was known to covet the media and encourage coverage of his military exploits. His legend was also cultivated after his death by his wife, Elizabeth Custer, who wrote Boots and Saddles (1885), Tenting on the Plains (1887) and Following the Guidon (1890).

Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

First edition of Ron Chernow’s Titan: The Life Story of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., inscribed by Wilson Rockefeller.

Thick octavo, xxii, 774pp. Brown paper over black cloth spine. Title stamped in gilt. Fifth printing number line on copyright page. In publisher’s very good dust jacket, retail price on front flap, light shelf wear. Signed on the title page: “To Henry Hely-Hutchinson, With great admiration and deepest friendship – Wilson Rockefeller. 3.ii.2000.”

John D. Rockefeller, Sr. (1839-1937) was the founder of Standard Oil Company in 1870, which he ran until 1897. At its peak, Standard Oil controlled 90% of all oil in the United States, making Rockefeller the richest American of all time.