Items Similar to A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer by Frederick Whittaker, First Edition
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer by Frederick Whittaker, First Edition
About the Item
Whittaker, Frederick. A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer, Major-General of Volunteers, Brevet Major-General U.S. Army, and Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh U.S. Cavalry. New York: Sheldon & Company; Chicago and Cincinnati: A.G. Nettleton & Co.; St. Louis and New Orleans: O. Bryan, Brand & Co.; Boston: Crocker & Stickney; Philadelphia: H.W. Kelley; San Francisco: A. Roman & Co., 1876. First Edition. In original red cloth pictorial boards, titled and embossed in black and gilt to the front board and spine, blind embossed back board. Illustrated throughout.
Presented is a first edition of Frederick Whittaker’s A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer, Major-General of Volunteers, Brevet Major-General U.S. Army, and Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh U.S. Cavalry. Written and published just months after Custer’s death at The Battle of Little Bighorn, Whittaker’s biography was the first authorized biography of the famous General. The book was published in December of 1876 by Sheldon & Company in New York. The book was in such high demand that it warranted additional publishers in Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, New Orleans, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, as seen on the title page. It is presented here in the original red cloth pictorial boards, titled and embossed in black and gilt on the front board and spine, and blind embossed on the back board. It is illustrated with twenty illustrations, including a frontispice portrait of Custer after J.C. Buttre.
The book details events in Custer's life, including his experience in the American Civil War and his significant role in the Battle at Little Big Horn. Whittaker’s reporting was based on personal notes and papers made available to him by Custer’s widow, Elizabeth Bacon Custer. The figure that emerges from the biography is one of epic proportions. Whittaker created a lofty image of Custer as a fearless and brilliant soldier, unparalleled in his bravery, and “a great man, one of the few really great men that America has produced.” Importantly, Whittaker casts blame for the disastrous defeat of Little Bighorn on Major Marcus Reno, helping to uphold Custer’s reputation in death. Although incredibly biased in his coverage and conclusions, A Popular Life remains important as the first published authoritative account of Custer's life.
CONDITION:
Good condition overall. In original red cloth pictorial boards, with black and gold embossed title, sword, flags, and decorative border to the front board, black and gold embossed title and decoration to the spine, and a blind embossed cavalry sword on the back board. Light fading to red at top of spine, with wear and bumping to corners. Interior pages have light toning and occasional spotting. Frontispiece illustration engraving of Custer by J. C. Buttre, with a tissue guard. 20 total illustrations. 648 pp.
Dimensions: 8 1/2" H x 5 7/8" W x 2" D.
Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.
- Dimensions:Height: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)Width: 5.88 in (14.94 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
- Style:High Victorian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1876
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Colorado Springs, CO
- Reference Number:Seller: BK12071stDibs: LU909745110702
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2010
1stDibs seller since 2011
449 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Colorado Springs, CO
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllTenting on the Plains, or General Custer in Kansas and Texas, First Edition 1887
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Custer, Elizabeth B. Tenting on the Plains or General Custer in Kansas and Texas. New York: Charles L. Webster & Company, 1887. First edition. Octavo. Original brown cloth boards, em...
Category
Antique 1880s American High Victorian Books
Materials
Fabric, Paper
Custer: The Last of the Cavaliers, Signed by Frazier Hunt, First Edition, 1928
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Hunt, Frazier. Custer: The Last of the Cavaliers. Illustrated by Captain John W. Thompson. New York: Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, 1928. First Edition. Signed and Inscribed by Frazi...
Category
Vintage 1920s American Books
Materials
Paper
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, First UK Edition, Original Boards, 1883
By Mark Twain
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Twain, Mark. Life on the Mississippi. With over 300 illustrations. London: Chatto & Windus, 1883. First UK Edition. 8vo. Original red pictorial cloth boards, embossed in black and le...
Category
Antique 1880s English High Victorian Books
Materials
Fabric, Paper
McClellan's Own Story by George B. McClellan, First Edition, 1887
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
McClellan, George B. McClellan’s Own Story: The war for the Union, the soldiers who fought it, the civilians who directed it, and his relations to it and them. New York: Charles Webster, 1887. First edition. Illustrated with steel plate engravings and maps. Rebound in quarter navy leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and titles to the spine, new marbled endpapers, and a new archival cloth slipcase.
Presented is the first edition of George B. McClellan Civil War memoir, McClellan’s Own Story: The War for the Union. The memoir was published posthumously in 1887 by Charles Webster, in New York. It is presented rebound in stunning quarter navy leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and titles to the spine, and new marbled endpapers. The book comes with a new archival cloth slipcase, with an inset image of McClellan on the front.
General George B. McClellan is one of the most controversial figures of the American Civil War. His chief contribution to the Union cause was his brilliant ability to organize and train troops. Yet he proved to be an overly cautious and indecisive General. Despite early wins in West Virginia, McClellan began to fear the Confederate Army’s growing size and strength. He grew increasingly hesitant to engage without more men or resources and disagreed with many of Lincoln’s war decisions. As a result, McClellan was removed as General-in-Chief in the spring of 1862, though he retained command of the Army of the Potomac. After the Battle of Seven Pines, a hasty retreat to Washington after the Seven Days Battles, and the epic contest at Antietam, McClellan was removed from all command in November of that same year. He went on to become the unsuccessful Democratic Party nominee in the 1864 presidential election against the Republican Lincoln.
Criticized after the Civil War, McClellan never publicly defended his actions as commander of the Union army. In this book, however, his memoir provides his answers to the many critics. Using a combination of military documents...
Category
Antique 1880s American Books
Materials
Leather, Paper
Inside the Space Ships, Signed by George Adamski, First Edition, 1955
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Adamski, George. Inside the Space Ships. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1955. Signed first edition, third printing. Original dust jacket. Housed in custom slipc...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Books
Materials
Paper
Marlborough: His Life and Times, by Winston Churchill, First Edition Thus, 1947
By Winston Churchill
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Churchill, Winston S. Marlborough: His Life and Times. London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., 1947. First Edition Thus. Two Volume Set. Rebound in tan Moroccan leather boards, with rai...
Category
Vintage 1940s English Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Leather, Paper
You May Also Like
George Krause-1 First Edition
By George Krause
Located in valatie, NY
George Krause-1. Haverford: Toll & Armstron, Publishers, 1972. Stated first edition hardcover with dust jacket. 60 pp. A handsome book on art American phot...
Category
20th Century American Books
Materials
Paper
$50 / item
'The Life of Nelson" First Edition books by Robert Southey
By Robert Southey
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
'The Life of Nelson" books by Robert Southey. First edition.
Vol 1 and 2
London: Printed for John Murray, Bookseller to the Admiralty and to the Board of Longitude
1813
J. Moyes,...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Books
George N. Barnard: Photographer of Sherman's Campaign First Edition
By Keith F. Davis
Located in valatie, NY
George N. Barnard: Photographer of Sherman's Campaign by Keith F. Davis and George N. Barnard. Univ of New Mexico, 1990. First edition paperback with dust jac...
Category
1990s American Books
Materials
Paper
Apter-Fredericks Important English Furniture 2012 Catalog First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Apter-Fredericks Important English Furniture 2012 Catalog by Harry & Guy Apter. Apter - Fredericks, London, 2012. Apter Fredericks had been operating from the same site in Chelsea si...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Books
Materials
Paper
George Bullock, Cabinet-Maker, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
George Bullock: Cabinet-Maker. London: John Murray Ltd., 1988. First edition soft cover. 160 pp. Exhibition catalogue held in London and Liverpool from February 24th to March 26th, 1...
Category
20th Century English Books
Materials
Paper
The Secret Life of Walter Winchell by Lyle Stuart, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
The Secret Life of Walter Winchell by Lyle Stuart. Boar's Head Books, New York, 1953. First edition hardcover with Brodart covered dust jacket. The book identifies the fault lines be...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Books
Materials
Paper