Life and Public Services of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, was an 1860 campaign biography by D.W. Bartlett. The 150-page book--published by New York's Derby & Jackson--played an important role in educating the public about the up-and-coming candidate, Abraham Lincoln. D.W. Bartlett was the Washington correspondent of the New York Evening Post and the New York Independent. The first printing was issued June 4, 1860, followed by a second printing on June 14, 1860.
The second printing said it was an "authorized" edition, but in fact, it was not. Lincoln, however, didn't openly dispute it. However, it is likely that the men who supported Abraham Lincoln, or Lincoln himself, suggested changes to Bartlett behind the scenes. The second printing was revised to remove a reference to the sherrif's sale of Lincoln's surveying equipment to pay off his debts.
The book is approximately 4-7/8" x 7-1/4". It was printed on highly-perishable pulp paper, so most of the books still in existence are very rough, especially the wrap. A second-printing edition of Life and Public Services of Hon. Abraham Lincoln is listed on eBay by seller niddk
. The biography is in very good condition: tight binding, clean throughout, no tears or missing pages or parts. The auction started at $50 on September 9, 2011, and runs until September 19. Bidding picked up quickly. With 9 days and 7 hours remaining, the current price is at $227.50. [Update: The final auction price was $898.00.]
see the original eBay listing
The first page reads:
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
PART FIRST.
EARLY HISTORY.
ABRAHAM LIINCOLN was born February 12, 1809, then in Hardin, now in the recently formed county of Larue, Kentucky. His father, Thomas, and grandfather, Abraham, were born in Rockingham country, Virginia, whither their ancestors had come from Berks county, Pennsylvania. His lineage has been traced no farther back than this. The family were originally quakers, though in later times they have fallen away from the peculiar habits of that people. The grandfather, Abraham, had four brothers; Isaac, Jacob, John, and Thomas. So far as known, the descendants of Jacob and John are still in Virginia. Isaac went to a place near where Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennesse, join, and his descendants are in that region. Thomas came to Kentucky, and, after many years, died there, whence his descendants went to Missouri.
The back cover shows a list of other books published by Derby & Jackson.
Comments