8vo (229 x 140 mm). Hand-sewn. (Light spotting.)

FIRST PRINTING OF THE EARLIEST LINCOLN BIOGRAPHY.

As editor of The Chicago Press and Tribune, Scripps was one of Lincoln's strongest supporters and, afterwards, received the postmastership of Chicago as a reward for his support. Scripps's Life was published simultaneously as a campaign document in Chicago and New York.

EXCEEDINGLY RARE: According to Fish's Lincoln Bibliography, not more than 6 copies are known. The last copy we could trace on the market appeared in Midland’s dealer catalogue in 1937. An even earlier appearance at auction was in Anderson Galleries’ 1907 sale of books from the Library of William H. Browne.

REFERENCES:
Chicago Ante Fire 511; Fish, p.112; Monaghan 79