[Remarkable bespoke bound collection of Civil War extracts, illustrations and ephemera]

1880. Newspaper clippings, maps and illustrations laid down on card stock and bordered in black ink, others extracted complete, plus some contemporary photographs, engravings and other pictorial material. 31 vols. 4to & large 8vo (11-1/4 inches and less). Half contemporary morocco and marbled boards, spines & boards gilt, t.e.g, bookplate of C.B. Farwell to front pastedowns. Newspaper clippings, maps and illustrations laid down on card stock and bordered in black ink, others extracted complete, plus some contemporary photographs, engravings and other pictorial material. 31 vols. 4to & large 8vo (11-1/4 inches and less). A remarkable collection of newspaper dispatches, maps, plans, portraits and illustrated scenes of battles and views. The maps, portraits and illustrations are drawn from a variety of published sources, including The New York World, but many are coloured or engraved and on heavier stock. This set provides an incredible overview of how the Civil War was not only reported but depicted in a multitude of media.

The bulk of the set consists of fourteen volumes of "Dispatches to the World Newspaper", spanning the period between January 1861 and June 1865. The New York World newspaper commenced publication in 1860 and was ongoing until 1931. It was a major organ for the Democratic Party and Joseph Pulitzer was its head from 1883-1911. In its first years, however, it was run by Manton Marble. In 1864 the paper was shut down for a short period having printed a document purportedly by Lincoln, but obviously forged.

A third of the set is devoted to the Southern Rebellion. The ten volumes illustrating it are as follows: Plans, maps and battlefields; Forts and batteries, Military uniforms; Battle scenes and incidents; Emblems, Arms and Endurance; portraits; war pictures , many coloured patriotic covers by Charles Magnus a full page watercolour of greiving soldier(2 vols); scenes and views (3 vols). The remainder of the set comprises: Portraits of Army Officers (3 vols); Portraits of US Representatives (2 vols); Portraits of US Senators; and Portraits of Distinguished Men.

The set was formerly owned and likely compiled for C.B. Farwell, whose bookplate adorns the front pastedown of each volume. This would be Charles B. Farwell (1823-1903), the former US Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. Farwell was a Democrat and this is certainly the type of set that might be owned by a politician whose philanthropy extended into education. Furthermore, the bookplate itself was printed in Chicago and Farwell was a representative for Illinois. He was a major benefactor of Lake Forest College.