Biography of James G. Blaine.
Norwich, CT: The Henry Bill Publishing Company, 1895. Hardcover. Small 4to. Brown pebble-grain blind-ruled cloth with gilt lettering and rules. iv, 722pp. Tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrations, floral endpapers, marbled page edges. Near fine. Faintest of binding wear at spine head/tail. Item #48113
Handsome first edition of this thick biography, with lovely autograph addition: Tipped to inner flyleaf is an Autograph Letter Signed from Blaine, 1p (lettersheet), 8" X 5", Washington, DC, 20 April 1883. Addressed to "My Dear Mr Bliss," presumably a banker. Very good. Minor edgewear; pinhole at upper left. "Will you please increase the credit of my daughter in Paris by the sum of $1000 -- advising her by mail there being no need of cable...." -- a considerable spending allowance, since $1000 in 1883 equates to well over $28,500 today. Boldly penned in black ink and signed in full at the close. Blaine was a powerful Maine representative (1863-76, 31st Speaker of the House 1869-75) and senator (1876-81) who served under three presidents as Secretary of State (1881, 1889-92); though favored for the presidency several times, he was only nominated in 1884, and lost to Cleveland. An exceptional copy with superb letter.
Price: $175.00