Political Discussions: Legislative, Diplomatic, and Popular 1845-1886

Norwich, Connecticut: The Henry Bill Publishing Company, Sold By Subscription, 1887. First edition, 1887, signed by the author on the title page, and with a letter written by Blaine laid in loosely at the front. Handsome copy in custom binding for George A. Zabriskie, bearing his initials in gilt inside the front cover and his armorial bookplate on a preliminary blank. Zabriskie was an avid book and art collector and member of both the Grolier Society and American Antiquarian Society. Full midnight blue morocco leather with floral decoration in gilt, raised spine bands with gilt decorated compartments, beautifully decorated inner covers in red and blue morocco decorated in gilt - in lieu of pastedowns - moire silk free endleaves in addition to the original marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, frontis portrait of the author, 525 pages. The letter, dated 14 March 1991 thanks the recipient (H. M. Allen, Esq., apparently at Harper's Magazine) for an advance copy of the April 1891 Harper's Magazine which featured an article on The Behring [Bering] Sea Controversy by Ex-Minister Edward John Phelps. The letter praises the article and its writer, who served the US as Minister to Great Britain and who later served as Senior Counsel representing the US in a tribunal adjudicating the controversy. The book is in very good condition with some rubbing to the joints, firm text block, clean pages with an unobtrusive transparent stain to the far outer margins of the frontis and some soil to the marbled endpapers, no other markings. The letter is slightly age-yellowed but clean and readily legible with Blaine's signature on the second page.. Signed & With a Letter By the Author. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.