The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men: Iowa Volume.
Chicago: American Biographical Publishing Company, 1878. Hardcover. 4to. Full brown blind-embossed bevel-edged calf over bevelled boards with gilt spine lettering/rules and heavily blind-embossed front board with gilt medallion, inner dentelle. 790pp. All edges gilt. Tissue-guarded frontispiece, numerous full-page heavy stock tissue-guarded steel-engraved portraits, marbled endpapers. Very good. Mild edgewear and bit of scuffing; hand-lettered paper shelf label near foot of spine. Item #50810
A tight and handsome first edition of this hefty regional biographical dictionary, of which editions also exist for the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota. Scarce -- especially in such nice condition. Gilt caption around crest reads, "Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain." 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. 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." Allison himself, serving his first term as an Iowa Republican senator, is profiled on pages 49-50. A choice copy of this quite difficult to find title and that of a rising politico who appears in its pages.
Price: $495.00