[Americana] [American Revolution] Hillard, Rev. E.B, The Last Men of the Revolution

1864

Hillard, Rev. E.B.
The Last Men of the Revolution
Hartford, Conn.: Published by N.A. & R.A. Moore, 1864. First edition. 8vo. (iv), 64 pp. Illustrated with six mounted albumen photographic portraits of Revolutionary War veterans, each bordered and lettered in gilt on mount, and with six hand-colored lithographic plates of their homes; each with tissue guards. With an additional mounted albumen photograph of Edward Everett, not called for, tipped in at front, and with the scarce facsimile letter by Everett at front not found in every copy (Howes H-490). Publisher’s three-quarter pebbled brown morocco over green pebbled cloth-covered boards, stamped in gilt, joints and corners rubbed; abrasion on front paste-down from now removed book-plate; front hinge worn; contemporary gift inscription on front free endpaper: “To M___ Briggs from your friend Jas. Packer Conductor WRR Sept 27-1839-& April the first 1866-”; front free endpaper and leaf with Everett photograph starting; edges of facsimile and front blank chipped; residue and small abrasions from dried glue in gutter of title-page; library accession inkstamp and call number in pencil on p. (3); scattered foxing to text and plates; gutter split at pp. 34-35, 40-41, and 56-57; small abrasion and open tear in gutter of rear free endpaper. Howes H-490; Sabin 31871; Reese, The Revolutionary Hundred 100

A remarkable production documenting the last surviving veterans of the American Revolution. Produced by Hillard during the Civil War to inspire patriotic sentiment, this volume features photographic portraits and biographies of Samuel Downing (1761-1867), Daniel Waldo (1762-1864), Lemuel Cook (1759-1866), Alexander Millener (or, Milliner) (1760/1770-1865), William Hutchings (1764-1866), and Adam Link (1761-1864). The final chapter, on James Barham (1764-1865), is unillustrated as he could not be located at the time of production. “The photographs provide a remarkable reach back in time, showing persons born in the 1750s and 1760s.” (Reese)

Provenance
Private Collection, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania