Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - January - 2007 Issue
Rare and Unusual Americana from David Lesser Antiquarian Books
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Lesser usually has a murder story with which to scandalize us, and this issue is no exception. Item 102 is The Life of Milton W. Streeter, the Jealous and Infatuated Murderer, who Murdered his Young and Beautiful Wife... The young and beautiful Mrs. Streeter had sued to leave her insane, suspicious husband, but he slit her throat, as well as his own. Milton survived and was sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life in prison. This book will tell you all about Streeter, his life, and his trial. $250.
Another regular among Lesser catalogues is the Indian Captivity. Item 54 is the Narrative of the Capture and Providential Escape of Misses Frances and Almira Hall, Two Respectable Young Women [Sisters] of the Ages of 16 and 18, who were taken Prisoners by the Savages... This book may have been intended to stir anti-Indian feelings, and Howes says the likely author was William P. Edwards, "the perpetrator of similar questionable captivities." Howes also notes that "the correct names of the Hall sisters were Rachel and Sylvia." One wonders whether he could have known their story very well if he didn't even know their names. However, this book is still considered an early resource on the Black Hawk War. The book also includes the "Sufferings of Philip Brigdon," also captured by the Sac and Fox Indians. Item 54 is a second printing from 1833, the year after the capture was said to have occurred. Brigdon and the sisters all managed to escape. $500.
Items 94 and 95 are collections of 25 and 27 pamphlets (mostly overlapping) from 1860-1875, published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (offshoot of the Mormons). The Reorganized Church was formed in 1860, but its followers were those who broke off from the better-known Salt Lake branch before their trek to Utah. The Reorganized Church opposed polygamy, and looked on Brigham Young as a materialist and sensualist. Their beliefs and differences with the Utah Mormons are explained in these pamphlets. $3,500 each for the collections.
Item 35 is a broadside, By His Excellency Samuel Ward King, Governor...of the State of Rhode Island...A Proclamation. The subject was the Dorr Rebellion. As of 1841, Rhode Island was the only state with a property requirement to vote. With recent immigration, that limited voting to 40% of the state's white males. Thomas Dorr led the formation of an alternate assembly to adopt its own state constitution when the legal one failed to expand voting. This led to a confrontation, and the Governor called on the Federal government for help. This broadside repeats President Tyler's recognition of the official government and his promise to support it, though the President concluded there was no need to send troops. By 1842, the rebellion had fallen apart and Dorr fled the state, but the disenchantment of the populace forced the regular government to expand voting rights to anyone who could pay a $1 poll tax. $600.
The website for David Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books can be found at www.lesserbooks.com, telephone 203-389-8111.
