Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant (Two Volumes, Complete) by Grant, Ulysses S - 1885

NY: Charles L. Webster & Co.. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1885. First Printing. Hard Cover. Publisher's full green cloth, gilt lettering and decoration on spines, gilt lettering and circular medallions on covers, printed endpapers. Illustrated with several B&W maps (some fold-out), two tissue-protected frontispiece engravings of Grant, an etching of Grant's birthplace, an etching of the house at Appomattox, reproductions of documents (some fold-out), and a facsimile of handwriting of Gen. Grant laid in. This is the first edition of "one of the most valuable writings by a military commander in history," illustrated with numerous steel engravings, facsimiles, and 43 maps. After an ineffectual term as president, ruined by bankruptcy and dying of throat cancer, Grant agreed to publish his memoirs to provide a measure of economic security for his family. Mark Twain agreed to serve as the publisher. Struggling to dictate his notes to a stenographer, Grant finished his memoirs shortly before his death in the summer of 1885. "It seemed to Twain, sitting quietly near him in his bedroom at Sixtieth Street, that Grant had fully regained the stature of a hero" (Kaplan, 273). "No Union list of personal narratives could possibly begin without the story of the victorious general. A truly remarkable work" (New York Times). "Grant's memoirs comprise one of the most valuable writings by a military commander in history" (Eicher 492). Dornbusch II:1986. Mullins & Reed 35. . Hinges professionally reinforced, boards rubbed, corners bumped and mildly worn, number stamp on first preliminary pages, otherwise unmarked, else near fine. Text and plates fresh. VERY GOOD.. B&W Illustrations. 8vo 8" - 9" tall. 584; 647 pp .