Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2007 Issue
Early Americana from Kaaterskill Books
Irascible Senator Charles Sumner, who was severely caned for his speech.
Here are a few other items in this interesting catalogue.
Item 66 announces the most terrible news imaginable. It is New York's then most popular paper, The New York Herald, announcing on April 15, 1865, that President Lincoln had been assassinated. "Abraham Lincoln died this morning at twenty-two minutes past 7 o'clock," the Herald informs what must be disbelieving readers. $500.
Item 63 is headed The Crime Against Kansas. Speech of the Hon. Charles Sumner...May 19, 1856. Sumner, probably the most ardent abolitionist in the senate, attacks the fraud in "bloody" Kansas, but goes on to make some strong and personal attacks against Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas and South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler. Douglas was labeled "squire of slavery," while Butler had taken "a mistress who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him; though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight—I mean, the harlot, Slavery." Those remarks did not sit well with Congressman Preston Brooks, Butler's nephew, who three days later entered the senate chamber and beat Sumner to within an inch of his life with a cane. It took over three years for Sumner to recover sufficiently to return to the Senate. $50.
Here is a bit of nostalgia for those who hail from Sumner's home state of Massachusetts. It is the Jordan, Marsh & Co. Fall Catalogue for 1881. Jordan Marsh was for many years New England's major department store, finally succumbing to chain store reality just a few years ago when its stores were all rebadged "Macy's." Item 56. $300.
Item 10 is another printing from Congress, Report of the Committee, to whom was Referred the Petition of Daniel Boon, together with the Bill for his relief. January 12th, 1810. In 1799, Boone, most associated with Kentucky, moved farther west, to Missouri, Spanish territory at the time. He was given land by Spanish authorities through a verbal grant, but when the territory was sold to America, he had no title. Boone petitioned Congress for his land. The Committee herein notes that Boone, now 75 years old, "eminently contributed to the early march of the American western population, and which has redounded to the benefit of the United States." Still, it took five years for Congress to recognize Boone's claims. He then sold most of the land to repay old debts from Kentucky. $75.
Kaaterskill Books may be found online at www.kaaterskillbooks.com, telephone 518-589-0555.
