As much as Weems admired Washington, Clement Moore detested Thomas Jefferson. Item 91 is Observations from Certain Passages in Mr. Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, which Appear to have a Tendency to Subvert Religion, and Establish a False Philosophy, published in 1804. There is some uncertainty as to whether Moore wrote this anonymous tract though it appears most likely. He justly attacks some of Jefferson's racial views, noting that the latter claimed blacks were “not superior to a war-horse, or a trained elephant.” However, it was less Jefferson's racial views as his theological ones that upset Moore. He believed in a traditional, conservative Christianity, and saw Jefferson as a Deist at best, not much higher than an atheist (or a trained elephant) in his eyes. Moore's theology has long been forgotten, but he is still remembered for a poem he wrote (some question whether he was the author of it too) – The Night Before Christmas. $350.
Item 66 is a late 1860's broadside headed Herald Extra. To The Public! It is a notice from watchmaker Fred Hoefling of Quincy, Illinois, that he is selling out his stock at bargain prices as he plans to move to Leavenworth, Kansas. He offered more than just watches - “EVERYTHING usually kept in a first class Jewelry House.” What makes this notice particularly interesting is what Paul Harvey used to call “the rest of the story.” Rather than Kansas, Hoefling decided to move to California. He gave his wife $4,000 of the proceeds to go to New York to buy goods, and had her sew the remaining $14,000 into his belt. He found a place in California for them to live, but needed some cash. He opened his belt to discover there were only pieces of paper sewn inside. He returned to Quincy to retrieve his wife, only to find both she and the money were gone. He should have left her with a copy of Parson Weems' God's Revenge Against Cruelty to Husbands. $275.
Item 47 is Edwin Eastman's Captured and Branded by the Camanche Indians in the Year 1860 (published 1876?). Eastman claims he was captured while traveling to California. “My parents and an only brother were murdered before my eyes.” His wife, he claims, “was sold to a neighboring tribe, for a few trinkets.” However, all of these horrors were worthwhile because an Indian Medicine Man taught Eastman the secret ingredients to cure all sorts of ills, which the generous Eastman now offered to the public under the name “Indian Blood Syrup.” This book also contains an advertisement for Eastman's more common title Seven and Nine Years among the Camanches and Apaches. Ayer calls that similar book “a revolting fictitious story.” One might call it a blood syrup libel. Eastman never suffered such cruelty at the hands of the Indians. He just made up the horrific claims to make money off of his fake “cure.” $275.
David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books may be reached at 203-389-8111 or dmlesser@lesserbooks.com. Their website is www.lesserbooks.com
