[GARFIELD, James A. (1831-1881), his copy]. The Stars of the Earth; or, thoughts upon Space, Time, and Eternity. Boston: Wm. Crosby and H.P. Nichols, 1850.

12mo (152 x 92mm). (Original limp cloth (some fading to spine and edges, early stitched repair on lower spine).

JAMES GARFIELDS COPY, INSCRIBED BY HIM on pencil on front free endpaper: “J. A. Garfield / Syracuse N. Y. / Sept. 15th 185[6?]” and with a few pencil annotations. On the rear free endpaper he has also written: “The Universe a mere Thought of God.”

The first part of this small anonymous work discusses the phenomenon of light shows how the past may be actually present to God, and become hereafter present to men; the second part the author discusses the unity of the Creator, by showing the unity of the creation.

Garfield’s library consisted of about 2,500 volumes, and this book contains his bookplate (cropped slightly) from his home, “Lawnfield” in Mentor, Ohio. The inscription likely dates from Garfield’s career as a schoolteacher from 1856-57. The final digit in the inscription is illegible (thumbed), but based on the subject of the work and the popular style in which it was written, it may have been used for his instructional purposes. The motto on his bookplate reads: “Inter Folia Fructu[s]. Library of James A. Garfield No…”. Books from Garfield’s library are scarce.

Property from the Patrick Atkinson Collection, Minneapolis, Minnesota

[GARFIELD, James A. (1831-1881), his copy]. The Stars of the Earth; or, thoughts upon Space, Time, and Eternity. Boston: Wm. Crosby and H.P. Nichols, 1850.