Extra-illustrated including a Lincoln-signed appointment

LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). The Life and Works of Abraham Lincoln. NICOLAY, John George and John HAY, editors. New York: Anglo-American Authors Association [c.1907].

Extra-illustrated "Presidential edition," with 1861 military appointment signed by Lincoln and Cameron and signed Mary A. Livermore portrait. One of 50 copies printed on japon; this set out-of-series. Vol.24 includes 32 autograph documents including an engraved document signed by Lincoln as President (“Abraham Lincoln”) and countersigned by Secretary of War Simon Cameron (1799-1889), dated 27 August 1861 appointing an individual to Second Lieutenant of the Second Regiment of Artillery; 1861 Department of State document to US Consul General of Guaymas, Mexico, signed by Jeremiah S. Black; ALS from John J. Crittenden, clippings of George Meade, Erasmus D. Keyes signatures. Vol.1 includes signed Mary A. Livermore engraved portrait facing p.92.

Two volumes extended to 24, octavo (223 x 150mm). Extra-illustrated Presidential Edition of Nicolay and Hay’s The Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Tandy-Thomas Company, 1905), with “letters, state documents and rare engravings”, “Monograph Copy”. This set out-of-series. 440 plates, comprising 43 from original illustrations from Complete Works with 387 added photographs, photogravures, engravings and color lithographs of portraits, prospects, maps and letters. Half-titles, manuscript title-pages. Contemporary plum crushed morocco, gilt tooling and engraved portrait of Lincoln to boards, gilt titling to spine, top edge gilt, morocco doublures of the same with varnished etchings inlaid to inside covers, white watered-silk free endpapers (spines and boards sunned, doublure plates curling up from boards, occasional tears to free endpapers). Provenance: embossed stamps to text block “Argyle | EGS | Pasadena” – Christie's New York, 18 November 1977, lot 131.