1885 Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant First Edition 2 Vol Set Charles Webster

by Book, Grant

$175 · Offered by eBay

First edition

Acquired at a Los Angeles estate sale, this lot offers a complete two-volume First Edition set of the Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, published in 1885. This masterpiece not only arguably presents the finest example of military memoirs in the English language, it also represents one of the most famous literary partnerships in American history, to wit: In 1884, bankrupt and dying of terminal throat cancer, General Ulysses S. Grant raced against time to write his autobiography to secure financial stability for his family. Recognizing the importance of the work, his close friend Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) stepped in. Twain funded, edited, and published the books through his own subscription publishing house, Charles L. Webster & Company (named after Twain's nephew-in-law). Grant finished the manuscript just days before passing away on July 23, 1885. Twain's massive marketing effort and generous 70% profit share ultimately saved Grant's widow from ruin, paying out the equivalent of millions of dollars in modern royalties. Book Specifications & Completeness Publisher & Date: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1885 (First Edition) Bindings & Dimensions: Original green cloth trade bindings featuring the iconic gold presidential medallions on the front & back covers and matching floral endpapers. Measures 6.5" x 9.25". Page Counts: Volume I (585 pages); Volume II (648 pages including Index and Errata). Illustrations: Both volumes boast high-quality engraved frontispieces showcasing different

• Publisher: Charles L. Webster & Co
• Year: 1885
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Fair

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