Item 66 is a presentation copy from the subject of this best biography of the early career of William Henry Harrison. Harrison would go on to hold the shortest presidency of any American, just 30 days in office before he died. However, around 30 years prior to his election, Harrison was fighting in what was then the American West (now Midwest), against Tecumseh and other Indians allied with the British at the time of the War of 1812. This book, written by Moses Dawson, and published in 1824, is not just a biography of Harrison, but an account of the Border Wars in the West at this time. This copy of AHistoricalNarrativeoftheCivilandMilitaryServicesofMajor-GeneralWilliamH.Harrison... has been inscribed by Harrison to William L. Stone, a New York printer and editor. $20,000.
Item 108 is a look back in time, an attempt to rekindle the original patriotic American spirit during the Civil War, when the nation was wrenched apart. The title is TheLastMenoftheRevolution.APhotographofEachfromLife,TogetherwithViewsofTheirHomesinColors.AccompaniedbyBriefBiographicalSketchesoftheMen, by Rev. Elias B. Hillard. Rev. Hillard thought that by publishing information about men who had fought in the Revolution who were still alive at the time (1864), it would bring back memories of a time when North and South fought together, a seemingly unbreakable union. However, it now being over 80 years since that war ended, there weren't many such veterans still around. Hillard was able to locate six, all near or over 100 years in age. Hillard went out in the field to photograph these last survivors and their homes, and write their biographies. And, it can be noted, the Civil War did come to an end a few months later, though it is unlikely Rev. Hillard's book played any role in that outcome. One of these six, Lemuel Cook, who died in 1866 at age 107, was the last official surviving veteran, although others with less certain credentials as Revolutionary War veterans lived as late as 1869. $8,500.
The William Reese Company may be reached at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.williamreesecompany.com.
