Raynors HCA 2018-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2018
Book Set, “Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant” New York, Charles L. Webster & Company 1885, first edition, in two volumes, fine. A tight set in green cloth bindings stamped in gold on the spine and front covers. This set is complete with the facsimile letter of Grant's original terms for Lee's surrender that is often missing. It illustrated with numerous steel engravings, facsimiles, and 43 maps. Mark Twain was the publisher of this monumental memoir as well as its editor and proof reader. Twain was extremely fond of and a close friend of Grant and encouraged the President and war hero to write his memoirs. Grant was dying of throat cancer but completed his two volume opus, dictating the second volume to a secretary. Twain noted in a letter to his daughter that the manuscript was not even set yet and 20,000 sets had been ordered from only two states. "Wait till you hear from the other 37." Grant finished his memoirs on July 18, 1885 and died five days later on July 23rd. Following his death, advance orders of the memoirs reached 300,000 sets realizing close to $450,000 for his family which was otherwise penniless.
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