Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - December - 2008 Issue
"Material Change" - Important American Documents from Seth Kaller
Meade congratulates his army for victory at Gettysburg.
A most telling letter from abolitionist Frederick Douglass from the Fall of 1846 is offered. Douglass had escaped from slavery in 1838, and gone on to write and lecture for abolition. However, he was still officially a fugitive slave, subject to return. In this letter from Britain, Douglass writes to Anna Richardson, who was attempting to buy his freedom from what Douglass still refers to as "my owner." At the time, he wished to return to America to see his wife, but was hopeful that the issue of his freedom could be resolved first. $75,000.
General George Meade issued a proclamation from Gettysburg on July 4, 1863. Printed from the battlefield, Meade congratulates his soldiers on their hard-fought victory. He then goes on to note, "Our task is not yet accomplished, and the Commanding General looks to the Army for greater efforts to drive from our soil every vestige of the presence of the invader." Lincoln did not like Meade's wording. He thought the "drive from our soil" line implied that only the North was Union soil. The Confederates needed to be defeated, not driven back to the South. Lincoln was also displeased with Meade's not pursuing the Confederates as they fled, believing this was an opportunity to destroy the enemy, rather than allowing him to regroup. By year's end, Lincoln would appoint Grant as Meade's commander. Meade's Gettysburg proclamation is priced at $27,500.
Seth Kaller, Inc., may be reached at 914-289-1776 or seth@sethkaller.net. Their website is www.sethkaller.net.
