Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - May - 2013 Issue

President Benjamin Harrison's Inaugural Address from the Raab Collection

President Benjamin Harrison takes oath of office in the rain.

President Benjamin Harrison takes oath of office in the rain.

The latest from the Raab Collection is almost a one-piece catalogue. It does have six other items, but 16 of its 18 pages are devoted to a one-of-a-kind rarity - The Original Reading Copy of the Inaugural Address of President Benjamin Harrison. Raab notes that they are unaware of reading copies of any other inaugural addresses still in private hands.

Harrison was the scion of one of the most important political families of America's first century. It is one of but three immediate families (along with the Adams and Bushs) to produce multiple U.S. presidents. He was the namesake of another Benjamin Harrison, his great-grandfather, an important Virginia political leader at the time of the Revolution, a member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and later Governor of the state. However, even he was only Benjamin Harrison V, numbers III and IV having been colonial Virginia leaders. With that background, it is fitting that President Benjamin Harrison took office on the centennial of George Washington first assuming the presidency. The date was March 4, 1889.

Benjamin Harrison was also the grandson of a President, William Henry Harrison. That ancestor was known by the sobriquet of “Tippecanoe” for his victory over the Indian Chief Tecumseh in that battle. His presidency was likely the least accomplished of any in American history, but that was not his fault. President William Henry (not Benjamin) is the one famous for giving the longest inaugural address in history, outside in the biting cold of Washington, becoming ill, and dying only 30 days after taking office. Benjamin Harrison also gave this inaugural address outside on a rainy day, but had the good sense to keep his speech brief, while his defeated opponent, Grover Cleveland, held an umbrella over his head.

Benjamin Harrison's inaugural address was noted as one of the most eloquent of the 19th century. The beginning and closing paragraphs express high-minded principles, while the center is focused on the issues of the day. Perhaps the most notable had to do with tariffs. Ultimately, it would be Harrison's downfall when he sought reelection in 1892. Tariffs had been a bone of contention between North and South since the time of the nullification crisis of the 1830s, when South Carolina almost seceded over the imposition of heavy tariffs. The South felt tariffs supported northern industries at the expense of southern agriculture, which saw little benefit from tariffs on foreign goods. All they saw, in their opinion, was reciprocal tariffs placed on their agricultural exports and increased costs on imported goods.

Harrison supported heavy protective tariffs, and attempted to use his inaugural address to convince the South they were beneficial to their region as well. “The sectional element has happily been eliminated from the tariffs discussion,” Harrison intoned, somewhat optimistically. He explains that by encouraging the South to build industries supporting its agricultural and mining activities, it too can benefit from industrialization. This led to another of Harrison's more optimistic, and highly principled ideals. He asks, “Shall the prejudices and paralysis of slavery continue to hang upon the skirts of progress? How long will those who rejoice that slavery no longer exists cherish or tolerate the incapacities it put upon their communities?” He believed that the need for labor in the new manufacturing facilities created as a response to high tariffs would serve “as a potent influence in the perfect unification of our people.” Blacks would become equal participants in the South's revitalization. He really didn't understand the South that well. Harrison deserves credit for promoting civil rights legislation, the last President who would do so for many years. However, he was not the strongest of presidents and was unable to get such legislation through Congress.

There is much irony considering today's issues in Harrison's tariff positions. The problem was that these taxes were raising too much money. “While a Treasury surplus is not the greatest evil,” he said, “it is a serious evil.” Imagine, the government raising more money than it can spend! Harrison's view was not to reduce tariffs, as they were imposed to protect American industry, rather than to raise money. Instead, he advocated more being spent on internal improvements. Harrison was a Republican, and it is certainly ironic now to see a Republican president promoting higher taxes and increased government spending.

Immigration was also an issue in Harrison's time, this being the era of massive immigration from Europe. Harrison favors it, but believes more should be done to screen out undesirables, and citizenship should not be granted to those who do not first acquaint themselves with its duties. Not wanting his position to come across as favoring certain ethnic groups over others, Harrison states, “there are men of all races, even the best, whose coming is necessarily a burden upon our public revenues or a threat to social order.”

Harrison might be called the “Education President” as he was a strong proponent of public education. He believed this would improve the quality of life of the nation's people as well as its economic strength. Harrison also felt that education would improve the condition of blacks and integrate them into American society. “At least until the good offices of kindness and education have been fairly tried the contrary conclusion can not be plausibly urged.”

Rare Book Monthly

  • Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: Th. McKenney & J. Hall, History of the Indian tribes of North America, 1836-1844. Est: €50,000
    Ketterer, May 26: Biblia latina vulgata, manuscript on thin parchment, around 1250. Est: €70,000
    Ketterer, May 26: M. Beckmann, Fanferlieschen Schönefüßchen, 1924. Est: €10,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: A. Ortelius, Theatrum orbis terrarum, 1574. Est: €50,000
    Ketterer, May 26: M. S. Merian, Eurcarum ortus, alimentum et paradoxa metamorphosis, 1717-18. Est: €6,000
    Ketterer, May 26: PAN, 9 volumes, 1895-1900. Est: €12,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: Breviarium Romanum, Latin manuscript, 1474. Est: €15,000
    Ketterer, May 26: Quran manuscript from the Saadian period, Maghreb, 16th century. Est: €10,000
    Ketterer, May 26: E. Hemingway, The old man and the sea, 1952. First edition in first issue jacket. Presentation copy. Est: €3,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction May 26th
    Ketterer, May 26: Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De re militari libri quatuor, 1553. Est: €3,000
    Ketterer, May 26: K. Marx, Das Kapital, 1867. Est: €30,000
    Ketterer, May 26: Brassaï, Transmutations, 1967. Est: €6,000
  • Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
    DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
    DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
    DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR
  • One of a Kind Auctions
    Rare Autograph and Documents
    Ending May 29th, 2025
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: George Washington Three Language Ship's Paper West Indies Trade Voyage.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: An Extraordinary Archive of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry: Over 60 Historic Documents, Naval Commissions, Family Papers, and Photographic Material Spanning the 19th Century.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Abraham Lincoln Appointment for Vice-Consul of Russia.
    One of a Kind Auctions
    Rare Autograph and Documents
    Ending May 29th, 2025
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: John Adams Signed Mediterranean Scalloped Top ship's passport.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Signed Ships Paper.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Herman Melville RARE -ALS (Moby Dick Author).
    One of a Kind Auctions
    Rare Autograph and Documents
    Ending May 29th, 2025
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Apollo 10: Flown Flag and Patch Display with Crew-Signed Covers from the Collection of NASA Engineer Clark C. McClelland.
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: James Garfield Rare Signature as President - Possibly the largest Autograph as President almost 6 inches long!
    One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Walt Disney Autograph over 7 inches in Length.
  • Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th May 2025
    Forum, May 29: Darwin (Charles). On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, first edition, John Murray, 1859. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Forum, May 29: Astronomy.- Apianus (Petrus). Cosmographicus Liber a Petro Apiano Mathematico Studiose Collectus., first edition, Landshut, 1524. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum, May 29: Bound for Jean Grolier.- Negri Stefano. Stephani Nigri Elegantissime è Graeco authorum subditorum translationes, uidelicet., first edition, first issue, Milan, 1521. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, May 29: Gill (Eric). Eve, number 1 of 50, hand-coloured wood-engraving, signed at foot in pencil, [1926]. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    29th May 2025
    Forum, May 29: America.- Warre (Capt. Henry James). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, first edition, Dickinson & Co., 1848. £25,000 to £35,000.
    Forum, May 29: Wodehouse (P.G.) Psmith USA, autograph manuscript of his novel "Psmith Journalist", signed and dated at end and dated "11 November 1909, Hotel Earle, 103 Waverley Place". £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, May 29: Women.- Wollstonecraft (Mary). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, first edition, uncut in original boards, 1792. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, May 29: Mathematics.- Whitehead (Alfred North) and Bertrand Russell. Principia Mathematica, 3 vol., first editions, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1910-13. £20,000 to £30,000.

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