The history of Minnesota: from the earliest French explorations to the present time by Neill, Edward Duffield - 1858

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1858. First edition of the first history of Minnesota, large paper issue limited to 100 copies, this copy out-of-series (but see below); large 4to, pp. xlviii, 49-628; frontispiece portrait of Alexander Ramsey (Minnesota's first governor), 7 other engraved portraits of prominent figures in Minnesota history (one, of Anna E. Ramsey, the wife of Alexander and the dedicatee of this book, is loose and laid in, and bound in its place is an original albumen photograph portrait of her in a similar pose); 5 maps (1 folding), 36 engraved plates mostly after Seth Eastman and mostly mounted proofs on India paper; original brown cloth stamped in gilt and blind, cracked at spine ends and along hinges, corners bumped and showing; a good copy or better. This copy enhanced by a presentation on the flyleaf in pencil: "Mrs. D. Blakely, with compliments of Mrs. Anna E. Ramsey." Mrs. Blakeley is likely Mrs. David Blakeley, wife of the Minnesota Secretary of State 1862-66. The Eastman plates were not included in the octavo trade edition of the same year. Not in Graff; Howes N-40; Sabin 52284.