Rare American Material from David Lesser Antiquarian Books
- by Michael Stillman
A youthful Lincoln graces the cover of Thayer's campaign biography.
Item 132 is a campaign promotion from 1864 by William M. Thayer, titled CharacterandPublicServicesofAbrahamLincoln. The cover features a bearded, but youthful and handsome portrait of Lincoln, perhaps a less than accurate portrayal of the man after almost four grueling years leading the nation through war. Lincoln's reelection was anything but preordained in the summer of 1864, but as the tide began to turn in the Union's favor in the fall, the President was swept back into office. $750.
Item 128 is a poignant broadside from 1873. As the heading reveals, Drowned!IntheOhioRiver,onthe25thofJanuary,1873NearWillowRun,Covington,KY.,OfftheSteamerWilliamStone,DanielE.Johnson,Age25Years... The broadside goes on to describe Johnson – close brown hair, fair complexion, 5 feet 6 inches, and with the initials “D.E.J.” and “Goddess of Liberty” on one arm. It asks anyone with further knowledge to contact a local business establishment or his parents. $250.
