Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - November - 2005 Issue
The Civil War Still Rages at Chapel Hill Rare Books
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In 1881, Davis published his history, The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government. In it, Davis again glosses over the issue of slavery, maintaining it was merely an "incident," not the cause of the War. He also argues that the slaves were happy being slaves, and it was the abolitionists who tempted them away from this happy state to instead attack their "benefactors." Revisionism is generally the preferred response when the reality of one's past is hard to justify. This copy is signed and inscribed by Davis to his very close friend Jacob Payne. Payne was co-executor of his estate, and Davis spent the final days of his life in Payne's New Orleans home. Item 116. $25,000.
We conclude the Jefferson Davis story with its natural ending: The Obsequies of Jefferson Davis. The Only President of the Confederate States of America, in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana. On Wednesday, December 11, 1889. Davis had died five days earlier, and this item was prepared as part of the honors. It was estimated that 200,000 people viewed the funeral procession. Item 204. $385.
At least Davis had the sense to know when a cause is lost. In 1910, Walter Neale addressed Virginia Confederate veterans with, not only a justification of the southern cause, but a call to take up arms again. "...take up the arms that you laid down at Appomattox, that you fight without ceasing, until southerners enjoy the rights so long denied to them. You and your children must not die as slaves." Neale neglected to add to that bit of hyperbole that he was happy to see other people and their children live and die as slaves. Item 254 is The Sovereignty of the States... $300.
You may find Chapel Hill Rare Books on the web at the long, but easy to remember address, www.chapelhillrarebooks.com. Their phone number is 919-929-8351.
Rare Book Monthly
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Fonsie Mealy’s
Summer Rare Book
& Collectors’ Sale
July 30-31, 2024Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: U.S. / European Shipping Archive 1800-1814. The Widow Bermingham & Sons Collection. €7,000 to €10,000.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Bunreacht na hÉireann. Constitution of Ireland. An important copy of the First Printing of De Valera’s new Constitution, approved in 1938. Signed by the Constitution Cabinet. €7,000 to €9,000.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: A Rare Complete Run of the Cuala Press Broadsides. €7,000 to €9,000.Fonsie Mealy’s
Summer Rare Book
& Collectors’ Sale
July 30-31, 2024Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Grose (Francis). The Antiquities of Ireland, 2vols. folio London (for S. Hooper) 1791. Magnificent Hand-Coloured Copy - Only 25 Copies. €3,000 to €5,000.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Cantillon (Richard). Essai sur la Nature du Commerce en General, Traduit de l'Anglois, Sm. 8vo London (Fletcher Gyles) 1756. €3,000 to €4,000.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Gregory, (Lady Augusta). Spreading the News: The Rising of the Moon: The Poorhouse (with Douglas Hyde). Being Vol. IX of the Abbey Theatre Series. €3,000 to €4,000.Fonsie Mealy’s
Summer Rare Book
& Collectors’ Sale
July 30-31, 2024Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Lavery (Lady Hazel). A moving series of three A.L.S. and a Telegram to Gen. Eoin O'Duffy, July-August 1927, expressing her grief at the death of Kevin O'Higgins. €3,000 to €4,000.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Dampier (Wm.) Nouveau Voyage Autour du Monde, ou l'on descrit en particulier l'Isthme de l'Amerique…, 2 vols. in one, Amsterdam, 1698. €800 to €1,200.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Howell (James). Instructions for Forreine Travel Shewing by what Cours, and in what Compasse of Time…, London, 1642. €800 to €1,200.Fonsie Mealy’s
Summer Rare Book
& Collectors’ Sale
July 30-31, 2024Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 8vo, L. (Bloomsbury) 1999, First Edn., First Printing of Deluxe Collectors Edn. Signed. €800 to €1,200.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: James (Wm.) A Full and Correct Account of the Military Occurrences of The Late War Between Great Britain and The United States of America. 2 vols. Lond. 1818. €650 to €900.Fonsie Mealy’s, July 30-31: The Laws of the United States, Published by Authority, 3 vols. Philadelphia (Richard Folwell) 1796. €600 to €800.