Memoirs of Lieut.-General Scott, LL.D. Written by Himself.
New York: Sheldon & Co., 1864. frontis, xxii, 653 pp. Illus. with portraits. Sm. 4to. Cloth. Large paper edition. Spine chipped at head and heel, front joint partially split, owners' bookplates on front pastedown, 1907 photo of Scott tipped on to free front endpaper, endpaper with chip at spine, otherwise contents very good,many leaves unopened (uncut). Sabin 78418. Howes S242. Graff 3716. Item #34951
One of a special edition of two hundred and fifty copies issued in one volume and printed on large paper in royal octavo size. "Scott had been the associate of every president from Jefferson to Lincoln and the emissary in critical undertakings of most of them. In his public career of nearly half a century he had been a main factor in ending two wars, saving the country from several others, and acquiring a large portion of its territory. Supreme political preferment was doubtless denied him because of conditions and his idiosyncrasies. Called "Fuss and Feathers" because of his punctiliousness in dress and decorum, he often gave the impression of irritability. He possessed a whimsical egotism, was inclined to flourishes of rhetoric, often unfortunate, and was too outspoken in his beliefs for his own advancement. On the other hand, the openness of his generous character led him into acts incomprehensible to calculating natures. He was a scholar, but knew when to discard rules, so that the letter of directions did not shackle him. His initiative and self-reliance never deserted him. He made use of his many talents unsparingly, and the only one of his hazardous undertakings he failed to carry out beyond the most sanguine expectations was that of his own ambition to reach the presidency," (Dictionary of American Biography). Provenance: James Torr Harmer, his bookplate on front pastedown. Scarce in this edition. None at auction in the last 30 years.
Price: $500.00