Taxation and Work: A Series of Treatises on the Tariff and the Currency.
New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1892. Hardcover. Small 8vo. Terra cotta cloth with gilt spine lettering. xvii, 296pp. Near fine. Hand-lettered spine shelf label. Item #49744
Handsome first edition of this text by a leading free trade publicist on two of his favorite reform topics -- and with a choice Autograph Quotation Signed from him as well tipped facing the title page -- a unique frontispiece. On a heavy stock 5" X 3" card, he boldly pens in brown ink: "For Free Speech / and Free Mail, / Edward Atkinson / Brookline, July 4, 1899." Atkinson (1827-1905) was a noted American liberal economist, industrialist, inventor and author, founder of the American Anti-Imperialist League, co-founder and president of the Boston Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Company. In addition, the front flyleaf bears a fine presentation inscription from one of Washington, D.C.'s leading booksellers to a favored client: "To / Hon Senator Allison / with compliments / of his friend / Robert Beall / Washington City / Sept 29, '92." Senator Allison, a leading figure on tariff and currency issues, had a large private library and surely would have been a regular visitor to Beall's bookshop. From the collection of William B. Allison (1829-1908), 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...." Atkinson was an intimate friend and frequent correspondent of Senator Allison. Quite an exceptional copy with interesting, relevant provenance.
Price: $595.00