Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - December - 2007 Issue
The William E. Boeing Library from Restoration Books
William E. Boeing.
Offered is a bound set of documents pertaining to the final settlement of the border between the U.S. and Britain (in the days when Canada was British). Disputes had gone on for years, particularly with regard to Oregon, when the Oregon Treaty of 1846 settled the border at the 49th parallel. At least everyone thought it settled the border. The boundary followed the 49th parallel all the way to Vancouver Island, where it dipped south, to give the British the entirety of Vancouver Island. The treaty had provided that the border proceed along the channel separating Vancouver Island from the mainland. However, that wording was subject to two interpretations. The border could go through the channel east of the San Juan Islands, placing those islands in Canada, or west of the San Juans, placing them in America. At one time, the countries came to blows of sorts, the infamous Pig War (a British pig gave its life in this struggle, though no humans made such a sacrifice). By 1860, the two sides were amicably sharing the San Juans again, but in 1873, the countries decided it was time to resolve the issue once and for all. The dispute was submitted to German Kaiser Wilhelm for a decision. These seven items pertain to the British arguments submitted to the Kaiser. They weren't good enough, as the decision came down for America, making the San Juans part of U.S. territory. $2,500.
Joseph Wallace published a biography in 1870 of a man mostly forgotten, perhaps because he died too soon: Sketch of the Life and Public Service of Edward D. Baker, United States Senator from Oregon and Formerly Representative in Congress from Illinois... Baker was born in England, emigrated to the U.S. as a child, lived for five years with his parents in the utopian community of New Harmony, and then onto southern Illinois, where he was admitted to the bar. His profession and political interests would introduce him to another young politically active lawyer, Abraham Lincoln. Both would join the Whig Party, and in 1844, each would seek the party's nomination for a seat in Congress. Baker won. However, it did not affect their friendship. Two years later, Lincoln named his second son, Edward Baker Lincoln, after Baker ("Eddie" Lincoln died just short of his fourth birthday). In 1846, when Lincoln was elected to Congress, Baker declined to seek reelection. Instead, he resigned and went off to fight in the Mexican War. He would return to successfully seek a seat in a different Illinois district in 1848, but again not seek reelection at the end of his term. Instead, he moved to California. In 1860, he moved once again, this time to Oregon, where he was elected senator as a Republican. Despite his position, Baker formed a regiment of volunteers early in the Civil War, and this is where his story ends, too soon. He died in battle on October 21, 1861. He was the only sitting senator to die in the war. His death shocked and saddened Washington. $150.
Another of Boeing's books was a complete set, atlas included, of Cook's three voyages. Cook spent more time around Australia and the Antarctic, but his third voyage would bring him to the Pacific Northwest as he sought, unsuccessfully, like so many others, to find a Northwest Passage. $55,000.
Speaking of the Northwest Passage, the man who finally did find it was Roald Amundsen, although the route did not provide a usable shortcut to the Pacific. Living in arctic conditions would prepare Amundsen for his greatest triumph a few years later - the first man to reach the South Pole. This copy is the 1908 New York edition of Roald Amundsen's "The Northwest Passage," Being a Record of a Voyage of Exploration of the Ship Gjoa... $1,500.
The Boeing Library catalogues are available for $40 for a set (the second volume will be mailed when published). You may contact Joseph C. Baillargeon and Restoration Books at 206-322-8852 or jcb@restorationbooks.com.
