Robert G INGERSOLL / The Gods and Other Lectures Signed 1st Edition 1874
The Gods and Other Lectures. Title: The Gods and Other Lectures Publication: Peoria, IL: Privately printed, 1874.
Green cloth over bevelled boards with gilt lettering and black decorative borders. Slightest of binding edgewear, with faintly shellacked spine bearing hand-lettered paper shelf label near foot; inner hinges delicate but archivally strengthened, thus tight; text block bright and near fine. Attractive first edition of Ingersoll's first book. Ingersoll (1833-99) was an Illinois attorney and briefly state attorney general who served valiantly in the Civil War, but is remembered as a famed orator and lecturer whose opinions on women's suffrage and most of all his anti-religious sentiments earned him the moniker (bestowed by none less than Reverend Henry Ward Beecher) "the Great Agnostic, " a title that prevented his ever winning public office. / With the kindest / regards and best / wishes of one of / his best friends / EP Ingersoll / Washington / Dec 6, 74.
Copies of this inscribed by Robert come occasionally on the market, but this is the first copy we have seen inscribed by Ingersoll's activist wife. Whether she and her husband were indeed close friends of Senator Allison or she was merely being politically tactful is not known. From the collection of William B. Presidents to hold cabinet positions. Early 20th century bookplate on each front pastedown notes This book is part of Allison Memorial Collection Gift of Mrs. Brayton and until deaccessioned was part of Allison's non-circulating collection at his hometown public library across the street from his Dubuque residence. Sage in his 1956 biography "William Boyd Allison: A Study in Practical Politics, " Allison owned hundreds of books on government, economics, history, banking, finance, and the tariff.... An omnivorous reader, Allison doubtless read most of these volumes, if only for relaxation from the strain that accompanied his efforts to solve the many problems facing the Nation.... Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts. Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts deals in out-of-print and antiquarian books, autographs and historic documents, ephemera, maps and pre-1900 newspapers. Member: ABAA, MWABA, The Manuscript Society.We take great pride in the quality of our stock and clean and cover all hardbound books in dust jacket sleeves or mylar. Every effort has been made to describe each item and any defects accurately. Large or heavy items may require that additional charges be invoiced separately. All autographs are guaranteed authentic without time limit to the original purchaser. William Butts, co-owner, apprenticed under a well-known Chicago dealer in the 1980s.
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