More Rare Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books

In 1802, you couldn't display your family spat on Jerry Springer's show, so you had to the best that technology then allowed – conduct a pamphlet war. Maryland's first Attorney General, Luther Martin, did just that. He took on a young law student, Richard Raynal Keene, to work in his office. Keene did more as Martin's assistant than just study law. He fell in love with Martin's daughter, and against the fierce opposition of her father, married the young lady. Martin spewed out a series of venomous attacks on his son-in-law under the sarcastic title “Modern Gratitude.” He was very angry, feeling betrayed. Apparently, Keene's “infernal malignity cannot, it appears, be possibly satiated.” Not a great start to a family relationship. Item 76 is Keene's reply, A Letter from Richard Raynal Keene, to Luther Martin, Esq. Attorney-General of Maryland; Upon the Subject of his 'Modern Gratitude.' Keene became something of a schemer, at one point being the first to attempt to set up a non-Spanish colony in Texas, long before Stephen Austin, but that fell through. He was involved in other controversies along the way (including the Burr Conspiracy). We don't know whether Keene and his father-in-law ever reconciled, but the couple named a son after Luther Martin, so perhaps they did achieve a truce. $500.

How often do Abraham Lincoln and Aesop appear together? At least once. Item 54 is Abraham Lincoln Toni Kin, qa Aesop Tawoyake Kin. Life of Abraham Lincoln and Aesop's Fables. The life of Lincoln was written by Rev. James Garvie, whose mother was a member of the Sioux tribe. This combination of unrelated material was translated into the Sioux language and was printed by the students at the Santee Normal Training School at Santee Agency, Nebraska, in 1893. Only 24 copies are known to exist. $2,500.

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books may be reached at 203-389-8111 or dmlesser@lesserbooks.com. Their website is www.lesserbooks.com.