The First Catalogue from Yeoman's in the Fork

Yeoman's in the Fork has issued their first printed catalogue, aptly titled 2011 Catalog - One. Yeoman's has been selling books for several years, but is now venturing into print. As Director of Operations Mike Cotter points out, "The stakes are getting higher in the 'Battle of the Book'" as new technologies emerge. The place printed books will hold in the future is unknown, but their survival will depend on those who collect today passing down their love of books to the next generation." This catalogue is this bookseller's attempt to pass along this essential piece of our collective history.

Yeoman's in the Fork is located in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee. I will admit to being one of those people who did not know where in Tennessee Leiper's Fork is, so I looked it up on a map. It's close to Nashville. You can combine a trip to the Grand Ole Opry with a visit to Yeoman's store. Or, you can combine a trip to Yeoman's store with a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. But, if you aren't heading that way, you can contact Yeoman's for a catalogue and I am sure they will be glad to help. Now, here are a few items from their selection of books and documents.

If you collect any of America's first three presidents, here are some early collections of the writings of these founding fathers. The Writings of George Washington is a 12-volume set of the first President's papers, correspondence, messages, and other material taken from original manuscripts, along with a life of the author. This first collected edition was published by Jared Sparks from 1834-1837. Sparks was a noted American historian of the first half of the 19th century, along with being an editor, Unitarian minister, and President of Harvard. Sparks received some criticism of his work as he at times edited his subject's writing to correct errors in grammar, spelling and such, though sticking to the basic text. Nonetheless, his research was the most thorough available in his time. Priced at $1,500.

Next comes The Works of John Adams, published from 1850-1856. This is another 12-volume set, comprising the second President's papers and a biography of the man. Adams, long remembered primarily for the one truly bad part of his career, promoting the Alien and Sedition Acts, has recently begun to be seen for all the great accomplishments of an otherwise outstanding, patriotic career. This set was written by Charles Francis Adams, his grandson. Charles Francis is somewhat obscured by having been both the son and grandson of presidents, yet he had a major political career in his own right. He was the Free Soil Party candidate for vice-president in 1848, a third party voice against slavery, served in Congress and was Ambassador to England during the Civil War. In this last role, he was critical in preventing the British from siding with the Confederacy. $2,250.

Finally, we have The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, a four-volume set published in 1829. This set was also the work of a President's grandson, in this case Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Randolph served in the Virginia House of Delegates where he introduced a plan that would gradually eliminate slavery (setting a date whereafter children born of slaves would be free), the last serious southern attempt to do away with slavery peacefully. $3,000.

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The First Catalogue from Yeoman's in the Fork

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The First Catalogue from Yeoman's in the Fork

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