[CIVIL WAR]. [LEE, James Kendall]. The Volunteer's Hand Book. Richmond, VA: West & Johnston, 1860. Unrecorded early printing.

16mo. (Toned, spotting.) Original brown cloth wrappers with gilt lettering and illustration of a soldier armed with a rifle (some discoloration, small losses to spine, sewing a bit loose).

Provenance: R. Henry Glenn (gift inscription; ownership inscription dated August 1860 to Preface). On the front free endpaper, the gift inscription to Glenn reads, "R. Henry Glenn / Aug. 1860 / Kempsville, P. Anne Cty: Va. / From his friend Capt. J. Vickery / N.L.A. Blues / 4th Regmt Artillery." The Norfolk Blues Light Artillery was formed in 1828 as both a militia and an exclusive social club. They were mustered into Confederate service in April 1861 originally as Company H of the 16 Virginia Infantry, transferring to an artillery unit in 1862. Captain Jacob Vickery, Jr. (1816-1887) enlisted on 18 April 1861 as a captain in the newly designated unit, before resigning on 21 December 1861 due to ill health. R. Henry Glenn appears to have served as a corporal in Company A of the 3rd Virginia Local Defense Infantry.

An early, possibly first, printing unrecorded in Parrish & Willingham. All copies listed name Lee as the author, variously as James K. Lee, Capt. J.K. Lee, or Jas. K. Lee. This copy lists the author on the title page only as "An Officer of the First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers." The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers is listed as a militia organized as early as 1858. The August 1860 ownership and gift inscriptions, the 1860 date on the title and copyright pages, the lack of author name, and the lack of any printing designation all suggest that this is a very early, pre-secession, possibly first printing of the popular tactical handbook. Including an abridgment of Hardee's Tactics, it was reprinted at least 6 times by 1861. RARE: only 3 copies, all 1861 editions, have sold at auction in the last 40 years. This edition not listed in Parrish & Willingham (see 4906-4911).

The Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann

[CIVIL WAR]. [LEE, James Kendall]. The Volunteer's Hand Book. Richmond, VA: West & Johnston, 1860. Unrecorded early printing.

[CIVIL WAR]. [LEE, James Kendall]. The Volunteer's Hand Book. Richmond, VA: West & Johnston, 1860. Unrecorded early printing.