1870s Books

Custer, General George A. My Life on the Plains; Or, Personal Experiences with the Indians by New York: Sheldon and Company, 1874. First Edition. Octavo. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spine, and a new archival cloth slipcase inlaid with the original front panel. Presented is a first edition printing of My Life on the Plains; or, Personal Experiences with the Indians by General George A. Custer. The book has been archivally rebound in 1/4 brown leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spine. It is presented with a new archival cloth slipcase, inlaid with the original front panel’s buffalo head motif. A portrait of Custer begins the volume, with seven additional full page wood engravings by Roberts throughout. My Life on the Plains was first published serially in Galaxy magazine, starting in May 1872. It was then issued in book form by New York publishers Sheldon and Company in 1874. Covering the years 1867–69, Custer’s book tells of the Seventh Cavalry’s operations on the frontier during the period of most extensive military activity against the Plains Indians. Included in the book are his descriptions of the landscape and speculations on the history and nature of the "Indians." Custer's narrative begins with the expedition of Major-General Hancock in the spring of 1867 and ends with the Washita campaign on the frontiers of Kansas. This book is considered a "classic account of military operations against various tribes of Plains Indians in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas” (Encyclopedia of American War Literature, pg. 84.) This is the only full-length book Custer published during his lifetime, issued just two years before his death at The Battle of Little Bighorn...

Iconic highly collectible and sought after hardcover oversized book (18" x 14 1/2"); "Portraits from North American Indian Life", Edward Curtis published 1972; comprising copies of (88) full page photographic plate images (17" x 14 1/2") each photo 15 1/2" x 11 1/2"; with title of each photo in the folio. A description (as per Edward Curtis) and number of each and all of the photos is detailed in the text. A.D. Coleman and T.C. McLuhan present a concise biographical sketch of the man, Edward Curtis, the photographer, and his remarkable photographic skills along with his impact and significance in preserving for eternity the lifestyle, customs, appearances and general existence of the North American Indian, in warm sepia tone images. These photographic images of Chief Joseph, Geronimo, and a plethora of Indian portraits and children, along with rural and village scenes of different Indians at work, transport, battle, on horseback, and nomadic tent communities; .compliment those lithographed pictures...

Lossing, Benson. The Home of Washington; or Mount Vernon and its Associations, Historical, Biographical, and Pictorial. Hartford: A.S. Hale & Co., 1870. Early edition. Octavo. In ful...

Holy Bible, Douai-Rheims Bible, 1873 edition, closure with cross clamps It is a translation of the Bible into English from the "Latin Vulgate", undertaken by members of the English C...

History of Battle Flag Day. Hartford: Lockwood & Merritt, 1879. First Edition. Octavo. Illustrated. In original maroon boards with gilt titles and decoration to the front boards, gi...

AAUTHOR: POE, Edgar Allan. TITLE: The Works Of Edgar Allen Poe. PUBLISHER: Edinburgh: Adam & Black, 1874. DESCRIPTION: 4 vols., 7-5/8" x 5-1/2", illustrated, engraved frontis por...

AUTHOR: BOWLSBY, Alice TITLE: The Great "Trunk Mystery" of New York City. Murder of the Beautiful Miss Alice A. Bowlsby, of Paterson, N.J. Her Body Placed ...

AUTHOR: POPE, Alexander. TITLE: The Works Of Alexander Pope. Includes Several Hundred Unpublished Letters, and Other New Materials. PUBLISHER: London: John Murray, 1871. DESCRIPT...

Sherman, William T. Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Written By Himself. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1875. First edition. In two volumes. Rebound in quarter blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and gilt titles to the spine, new marbled endpapers. New custom archival cloth slipcase with Sherman portrait inlay. Presented is a first edition printing of The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman. This two volume book set was published by D. Appleton and Company, in New York, in 1875. It is presented here, rebound in striking quarter blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and gilt titles to the spine, new marbled endpapers, and a custom archival cloth slipcase to fit both books. Ten years after the end of the Civil War, Sherman became the first General to publish his memoirs of that period. He began writing his account in 1872 and the two volumes were published by D. Appleton and Company in the spring of 1875. According to the publisher’s prospectus, the two volume set was originally offered in four different bindings, including fine blue cloth, green cloth, full sheepskin, and half blue moroccan leath. Sherman explains his motivations for writing in the preface of Volume I: “Nearly ten years have passed since the close of the civil war in America, and yet no satisfactory history thereof is accessible to the public;…. What is now offered is not designed as a history of the war, or even as a complete account of all the incidents in which the writer bore a part, but merely his recollection of events, corrected by a reference to his own memoranda, which may assist the future historian when he comes to describe the whole, and account for the motives and reasons which influenced some of the actors in the grand drama of war.” His two volume account touches briefly on his early life, including his time at West Point, his life in and out of the army in Florida, California, New York, Kansas, and Louisiana. Yet the bulk of the writing is focused on the Civil War. “Written with the propulsive energy and intelligence that marked his campaigns” his memoir provides firsthand accounts of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, the infamous Atlanta campaign, and his march to the sea through Georgia and the Carolinas. The memoir describes striking incidents and anecdotes and collects dozens of his incisive and often outspoken wartime orders and reports. Throughout it all, Sherman is quite frank in describing the rights and wrongs of the campaigns he saw, writing without much concern for the feelings or experiences of others. This complex self-portrait of an innovative and relentless American general provides for a vivid read and an exceptional Civil War account. CONDITION: Good condition. First edition. In two volumes. Beautifully restored and rebound. Quarter blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and gilt titles to the spine, new marbled endpapers. Paper is okay to good, with toning as to be expected. Scattered spots and smudges. Inscribed twice by previous owner, inscription on the top of the Note page of Vol I and on the full title page of Vol II. Large "Military Map...

Rectangular with 3/4 gallery carved on the outside with a central lion flanked soldiers. Interior with walnut over two drawers. Bun feet. Meant to be placed on a desk with the back f...

Sherman, William T. Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Written By Himself. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1875. First edition. In two volumes. Rebound in quarter blue leather and ...

Carroll, Lewis. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1872. Illustrated by John Tenniel. First US Edition. Octavo. Rebound in full white lea...