History of the Manufacture of Iron in All ages, and Particularly in the United States from Colonial Times to 1891....
Philadelphia: The American Iron and Steel Association, 1892. Hardcover. Small 4to. Green pebble-grain calf with bevel edges and gilt spine lettering. xix, 554pp. Near fine. Spine (which bears small hand-lettered shelf label near its foot) has been lightly shellacked, a common late 19th century practice. Item #49671
Exceptionally tight and bright revised and enlarged second edition (truly "second and best"!) of this in-depth study (first published 1884) of the iron and steel industry, which is subtitled "Also a Short History of Early Coal Mining in the United States and a Full Account of the Influences Which Long Delayed the Development of All American Manufacturing Industries." Inner flyleaf bears a big, bold presentation inscription from the author: "Hon. Wm. B. Allison. / With the regards of / James M. Swank / Sept. 24, 1894." (So bold, this inscription, that it leaves a ghosted image on the title page.) Swank (1832-1914) was an editor, historian and statistician highly influential by all as regards the iron and steel industry, whose American Steel and Iron Association he served as secretary and general manager (1782-92) and in other capacities until 1912. Recipient William B. Allison (1829-1908) was the powerful Iowa Republican who, as U.S. senator from that state (1873-1908), was one of the "big four" who controlled the Senate; as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for most of those years, he championed tariff legislation and co-authored the Bland-Allison Act of 1878; as member of the Senate Finance Committee he was often courted by U.S. presidents to hold cabinet positions. Early 20th century bookplate on front pastedown notes "This book is part of Allison Memorial Collection Gift of Mrs. Jennie A. Brayton" and until deaccessioned was part of Allison's non-circulating collection at his hometown public library across the street from his Dubuque residence. According to Leland L. Sage in his 1956 biography "William Boyd Allison: A Study in Practical Politics," Allison owned "hundreds of books on government, economics, history, banking, finance, and the tariff [as well as] volumes of American and English literature. An omnivorous reader, Allison doubtless read most of these volumes, if only for relaxation from the strain that accompanied his efforts to solve the many problems facing the Nation...." Choice presentation copy of a landmark text on a vital industry.
Price: $500.00