The Two Circuits. A Story of Illinois Life.

Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co, 1877. Hardcover. Small 8vo. Orange cloth with black and gilt decorative and pictorial stamping. xiii, 502pp. Frontispiece, illustrations. Very good. Spine slightly sunned and a bit cocked, with minor fraying at head and tail of spine; inner front hinge cracked but expertly, archivally strengthened. Item #33382

Fairly tight and decent first edition of this Illinois fiction whose dedication page thanks "General U.S. Grant who was Colonel of the 21st Illinois Regiment while I was its chaplain...." Delightful full-page engravings by Frank Beard. Crane was a Springfield preacher, and this colorful novel depicts the rugged life of the Methodist preachers who traveled from village to village, settlement to settlement, preaching the gospel -- much as young Springfield attorney Lincoln traveled the judicial circuit, trying cases in tiny rural villages. Interesting provenance, the front pastedown bearing the plain red-printed bookplate "From the Library of / Ed Grabhorn / at the Grabhorn Press."

Price: $95.00

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