History, Literature, Manuscripts and More from James Cummins Bookseller

Item 110 is a circa 1864 drawing by the great political cartoonist Thomas Nast, captioned, No. 2. The Small White House for the Large Statesmen. It depicts the limbs of a couple of large people, possibly including President Abraham Lincoln, protruding from windows and doors of the White House. In front, a black lady cooks on a stove with a washboard and clothesline nearby. See the image on this page. Exactly what point Nast was making is not clear. Nast would later become famous for his biting cartoons of Boss Tweed that helped bring down New York's corrupt Tammany Hall. $6,500.

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is best known for the illogical logic of his "Alice" stories written under the penname Lewis Carroll, but Dodgson was actually a mathematician and logician. He tutored students (young girls) in logic, and wrote this book, Symbolic Logic Part I Elementary, published in 1896. This copy is inscribed, as typically, "from the Author," to Hilda Rowell. Hilda was the oldest of three sisters who were tutored by Dodgson, the younger ones sometimes considered among his "child friends." Item 50. $7,500.

Item 12 is the beginning of a eulogy that touched the heartstrings of America like few others. It is the autographed, draft manuscript opening of Secretary of State James G. Blaine's eulogy before the House of Representatives for fallen President James Garfield. You can find printed copies of Blaine's eulogy available online. Garfield has slipped somewhat into obscurity over the 120 years since he was assassinated, but he was immensely popular at the time he died, and the nation, not that far removed from Lincoln's assassination, was deeply hurt. Blaine's eulogy was flowery and emotional, well received by a grieving public. Blaine would go on to wrest the 1884 Republican presidential nomination from Garfield's vice-president and successor, Chester Arthur, but would unexpectedly be defeated in the general election. $1,000.

William Howard Taft served in the nation's top job in both the executive and judicial branches. He served as President from 1909-1913, and then was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1921. In 1927, he weighed in on the aftermath of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, and his observations would lead one to believe that Theodore Roosevelt was right - Taft was no progressive. In this letter to Connecticut Republican leader Ike Ullman, Taft uses a little red-baiting directed towards those unhappy with the two men's conviction for murder: "The propaganda in this case has been world wide and promoted by the very extended contributions of people, many of whom are reds, some who are pinks, others who are hysterical and prone to think everything wrong, and by others with criminal instincts. It would seem that the rule toward which many people are working would result in immunity for anybody who said he was a communist…" Sacco and Vanzetti's guilt or innocence is debated to this day (some think Sacco was guilty; Vanzetti innocent). However, what is clear is that neither received a very fair trial, with anti-Italian prejudice flowing freely. Taft must have missed this. Item 162. $4,000.

James Cummins Bookseller may be reached at 212-688-6441 or cummins@panix.com. Their website is www.jamescumminsbookseller.com.