Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2006 Issue
Literature, Poetry, Filmscripts and More from William Reese
Tarzan is justly rewarded for defeating the Nazis.
Now for an item that will appeal to those of a right-leaning political persuasion. It is The Life of John Birch in the Story of One American Boy. The Ordeal of His Age. This book was written by Robert Welch and was published in 1954. Welch would go on to form the society that bears Mr. Birch's name four years later. While the John Birch Society is legendary for its far right views, Mr. Birch himself was a missionary and U.S. intelligence officer in China killed by the Communists in 1945 with no ties to those who adopted his name (they considered Birch the first victim of the Cold War). This copy of Welch's book contains a 1954 inscription to H.L. Hunt, a wealthy Dallas oilman who funded the Birch Society and at one time paid to broadcast his personal editorials on radio stations around the country, promoting similar far right views. He may have been the wealthiest person in the country during the 1960s. Despite his conservative views, H.L. had two wives and families (at the same time), and had four children with his third wife before they were married. Evidently, H.L. felt conservatism was more appropriate for others than himself. Among his 14 children are Bunker, who at one time made, then lost, billions of dollars attempting to corner the world's silver (he ended up bankrupt), and Lamar, a founder of the old American Football League who still owns the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Item 297. $175.
Item 417 is another inscribed book, From Morgenthau's Diaries Years of Crisis 1928-1938, inscribed, naturally, by Henry Morgenthau, Jr. Morgenthau had purchased a large farm in Dutchess County, New York, in 1913, making him a neighbor of one Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed him to the state agriculture commission in 1930 when FDR was still Governor, and to several federal offices after becoming President. In 1934, Roosevelt named Morgenthau Secretary of the Treasury, a post he held until 1945. Morgenthau played a major role in ushering the nation through its financial depression, and then in raising funds to support the war effort. Morganthau died in 1967, but his 86-year-old son Robert still serves as District Attorney for the city of New York. The 1959 inscription in this book states, "For Eleanor Roosevelt. My best friend and neighbor for a life time...This so called "Diaries" is a factual record of my work under F.D.R. and was done largely to prove to the young people of America that you can be honest in government..." Perhaps it's time for someone to reprove that seemingly unbelievable claim to today's young. $275.
First editions of Gone With The Wind are a dime a dozen, but not first printings. The first printing of Margaret Mitchell's beloved if not acclaimed work is both uncommon and highly collectible. Item 414 is a first printing. $12,500.
The William Reese Company may be located online at www.reeseco.com, or reached by phone at 203-789-8081.
