Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1837. In two volumes. First edition. With an autograph letter, signed in the third person, by Thomas Jefferson, as president of the United States, tipped in at front of first volume: "Th. Jefferson to Mr Skipwith The inclosed letter is from a friend in Virginia whom I very much value, & relates to some family affairs very interesting to him. I ask the favor of you to find the safest means you can of having it conveyed to it's address, & I pray you to accept my friendly salutations, & my thanks for the trouble I ask of you. Washington Mar. 29. 1801." (manuscript on verso: "recd fr Holland, 5 June 1801 by yr. mo. obt. svt. J.C. M_____"); creasing from when folded; repaired loss from when opened traversing Jefferson's name. 8vo. xvii, (iii), (xiii)-xx, (9)-545, (1), (10, ads); (ii), 525, (3) pp., including errata in each volume. Extra-illustrated, with an engraved frontispiece (as called for), and with an additional 39 engraved portrait plates. Full dark red crushed levant, decorated in gilt, joints rubbed; top edges gilt; gilt dentelles;; marbled endpapers; by Popelin; small printed card mounted to front free blank in first volume; offsetting from plates. Howes T-380; Sabin 97302

A handsome extra-illustrated first edition of historian and University of Virginia professor George Tucker's biography of Thomas Jefferson, the first comprehensive biography of the third president. With an autograph letter, signed by Jefferson in the first month of his presidency, to Virginia merchant, diplomat, and then United States Consul-General to France, Fulwar Skipwith (1765-1839), regarding the conveyance of a letter (not included) from a family friend to an unidentified recipient in Paris.