Poll Results

Not a lot of surprise to my recent poll about the importance of buying first editions. 77% of the respondents replied that they specifically sought out first editions, assuming they were "affordable." I keep thinking of a commentary I read as to why the author bought only first editions. His reply was "Because I can't afford not to." First editions are the only versions of books that have any chance of holding their initial cost or even appreciating. That's certainly not to say that they will, but at least the chance is there. Reprints or paperbacks are strictly depreciating assets. If the Civil War book collector ever hopes to recoup anywhere near what she invested, it will only happen if the collection is comprised of first editions.

The Golden Age of Battlefield Preservation

Here's a new book that appears to be right up my alley. The Golden Age of Battlefield Preservation: The Decade of the 1890s and the Establishment of America’s First Five Military Parks by University of Tennessee Professor Dr. Timothy Smith discusses a topic that has not been hashed over to death, will undoubtedly touch on my growing interest in Civil War memory and historiography, and is written and published by well-respected parties.

As this article mentions, Dr. Smith "looks at the impulses behind the veterans’ creation of the battlefields at Chickamauga, Antietam, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Gettysburg, impulses that include the sentiments of reconciliation, brotherhood, and reunification and which resulted in arguably what are still today the best preserved of the war’s major battlefields. He also looks at what it took to make these places realities and how while they are similar, each is unique in its own ways individually. The stars of the book are the colorful, driven, and dedicated former soldiers who, sometimes as members of Congress, pushed these battlefield parks into being and who are largely responsible for the legacy from which we benefit today and which we should strive to still carry forward."

As a proud member of the Civil War Preservation Trust, it will be interesting to learn if some of the challenges faced by today's preservationists also existed back then.

New Poll at Left

Are you a hardcore, first edition book collector afflicted with a touch of bibliomania (aka "the gentle madness"), simply a "data" collector, or a combination of the two? I've put up a new poll (at left) that will try to measure the importance, or lack thereof, to this site's visitors for obtaining first editions when buying new or used Civil War books. It will run for a week. Comments and rationals are welcome!

1858

Every now and then I’m asked to review a new book and I do my best to oblige. It’s genuinely flattering that my opinion is so desired. I stress however that I take the word “review” literally and that it’s not meant as a synonym for “hype.” Which brings me to the recently-released 1858: Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and the War They Failed to See, a much-promoted new work by author Bruce Chadwick that by its title, suggests 1858 was a crucial and defining year in the run up to the Civil War.

Admittedly, I expected the work would be a traditional narrative that presents the author’s case. In an initial Author to Reader section though, Chadwick explains how he has set aside that common format and instead presents seven standalone narratives that discuss the history, 1858 whereabouts and actions pertaining to the book’s seven key characters. In addition to three of the men mentioned in the book’s subtitle, Chadwick also presents essays pertaining to William Seward, John Brown, William T. Sherman and the residents of Oberlin, Ohio. Their 1858 trial pertaining to the freeing of a runaway slave set off a controversy around the country. Interspersed between each tale are vignettes of 1858 events that marked James Buchanan’s fractured presidency in that year. According to the author, Buchanan “ignored slavery, engaged in questionable imperialist schemes, divided his own party during the elections, started feuds with dozens of important people, and exhibited a distinct lack of leadership at a time when the nation desperately needed some.” It is these accounts of Buchanan’s “meanness and ineptitude” that Chadwick hopes will act as the glue that brings the seven main stories together, so as “to offer a comprehensive account of a nation of angry people, North and South, drifting toward one of the tragic conflicts of history.”

While I applaud the author’s format experimentation, I was ultimately disappointed for there seemed to be little connectivity between the standalone essays other than the obvious fact that none of the protagonists realized war was on the horizon.

In the case of William Sherman for example, Chadwick takes twenty pages to give the reader a biographical essay of Sherman’s life up to and including 1858, highlighting how in that year, Sherman was reduced to selling corn at a roadside stand in Kansas. Such is the design for each character. In the book’s ten-page Epilogue, Chadwick then delivers a concise explanation of what happened to each subject from 1858 up to the start of the Civil War.

For my tastes, there was simply little analysis that connects the dots from the circumstances of the book’s protagonists to the fateful start of the Civil War. There is plenty of who, what, when, where, but very little why. On further thought, perhaps there is no connection and that these seven subjects simply serve to illustrate to the reader just how blind the country was to what lay ahead. I closed the book feeling that what I had just read was more of a multi-character biography (and well-travelled biography at that) than a scholarly assessment of how the events of 1858 specifically contributed to the start of the Civil War. Adding to my frustration is the book’s attractive though deceptive dust jacket, which bends over backwards to emphasize the desired, and from a marketing standpoint, all-important Civil War connection. The artwork highlights in its subtitle four of the war’s main players, features a painting of the Fort Sumter bombardment, as well as an inset portrait of Lincoln. As part of the sleight of hand, it is noted that even though Ulysses S. Grant appears prominently in the subtitle, he is mentioned in the text on no more than five pages, three of which are part of Sherman's essay. In reality, there is very little in the book that relates directly to the Civil War.

Technically, I found the book very well-written and easy to read. A solid bibliography and almost 750 endnotes show that the author did his homework. In addition, numerous portraits of the work’s key players are found in the mid-section. I recommend 1858 as a good introduction for the general reader on the antebellum lives of some of the Civil War’s more prominent names. If that was the author’s intent and target market, then in my opinion he has succeeded quite well. Unfortunately, for the more advanced student of the Civil War or antebellum America, there is little new here.

Another Major Civil War Auction - June 2008

The Heritage Auction Galleries will present another auction of significant Civil War artifacts with online bidding available throughout most of June. The auction will feature collectible items of every stripe, including uniforms, letters, other documents, photographs, weaponry, and some books.

Among the few notable books is the Personal Memoirs of Major General D. S. Stanley. David Sloane Stanley graduated from West Point in 1852, where he became a close friend of Philip Sheridan. When the Civil War broke out, Stanley was offered but refused a commission in the Confederate army. He saw action for the Union at Wilson's Creek, under John C. Frémont. Promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on September 28, 1861, Stanley commanded a division in the fighting at New Madrid and Island No. 10 under Major General John Pope in early 1862. More fighting soon followed at Iuka and Corinth, Mississippi. In November 1862, General William Rosecrans appointed Stanley chief of cavalry of the Army of the Cumberland, whose fighting strength Stanley greatly improved.

Stanley became a major general in April of 1863, and led a division throughout the 1864 Atlanta Campaign. His reputation suffered when Sherman thought he was too slow at Jonesborough, thereby allowing the Confederates to escape destruction. Stanley improved his reputation when he served well in the Tennessee campaign in November 1864, and was seriously wounded at Franklin. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there and later recounted his wartime experiences in this beautiful 6" x 9" Moroccan leather-bound reminiscence. This scarce 271-page book was published in 1917 by the Harvard University Press and includes a pull-out map of wartime Tennessee. According to this online bio, Stanley's memoir also contains many colorful pictures of his extensive post-war service on the Texas frontier.

It appears to be a rather uncommon book as there are presently no copies offered for sale on ABE or bookfinder.com.

A Little Self-Promotion

In 2005 as I was wrapping up the proofreading for my regimental history of the 26th NY Infantry, I learned of and ultimately bought a collection of 37 previously unseen Civil War and post-war letters from two New York brothers, one of whom served in the 26th. Clinton DeWitt Staring served throughout the war in the 26th NY and then the 3rd NY Light Artillery, Mercer's Battery C. His brother, Charles, briefly served in the 121st NYSV. I was able to weave some of the material into my regimental at the absolute last minute, but for the most part, these letters pertained to the other units.

The material was way too short and mundane for a regular publishing house to produce. However, given my love for fine, handmade books, I slowly laid plans to self-publish these letters in a very limited quantity. Two years later, the result was a 100-copy fine press limited edition entitled "Give My Love to All Our Folks:" Civil War and Post-War Letters of Clinton DeWitt Staring and Charles E. Staring."

Working with Chad Pastotnik and his Deep Wood Press, the finished product was quite literally a handmade effort. I describe the book at my website thusly: "This fully annotated, slender collection of 37 heretofore unseen letters offers a glimpse into a Civil War-era New York family through the letters of DeWitt and Charles as they write home to a third brother, Wellington. The book has been lovingly created by Deep Wood Press in a limited edition of only 100 copies. Using the highest quality materials and hand book binding techniques, this volume has been designed to appeal to not only the Civil War student, but to the connoisseur of fine press bookmaking as well. "Old world" craftsmanship at its finest!

The edition is comprised of 74 signed and numbered trade copies printed in three colors on Fox River Teton paper, 1/4 bound in gray book cloth and blue Hahnemuhle Bugra paper, copper foil stamped title on spine and cover. Also, an additional 26 slipcased, signed, and lettered deluxe copies printed in three colors on mould made Frankfurt paper by Zerkall. Hand bound 3/4 in gray Harmatan goatskin and blue Hahnemuhle Bugra paper, copper foil stamped title on spine and cover, slipcases covered in gray book cloth with copper foil stamped title. Composed in Intertype and ATF Garamond types. 6 1/2 x 9 3/4", 80 pages." Considering the quality of materials, the limited nature of the project and the labor costs involved, the trade edition was priced at $75 with the deluxe edition priced at $125. [click on pictures for larger images]

Let me be the first to admit that the book is my homage to the world of fine press bookmaking - "bookmaking as art" is how I would describe it. I think anyone would agree that there is a strong parallel between this type of work and others presented at this blog. The content of the letters however, cannot be considered an important addition to the Civil War's body of knowledge, though there are certainly very interesting passages, including Charles' description of the battle of Fredericksburg and his hastily drawn map of the same. Therefore, as expected, sales of this limited edition have been stronger in the fine press book community than in the Civil War community. That said, I'm offering a special deal to visitors of this blog. If you would like to own one, I will offer remaining copies at 40% off through May. That works out to $45 for the trade and $75 for the leatherbound limited. Add 5 bucks for shipping. Just shoot me an email and mention this blog. Cheers.

The Red Badge of Courage

I do not happen to own a copy of Stephen Crane's classic novel The Red Badge of Courage, therefore I've been considering which version to buy. I say that because the book has been published in umpteen "collectors editions" since its first publication in 1895. All manner of deluxe versions have appeared over the years, from fine presses such as Heritage and the Limited Editions Club, to Franklin Library and Easton Press leather bound editions. The original first edition however (pictured), published in New York by the D. Appleton Co. in 1895 is well beyond most collector's means, with choice copies going for well over several thousand dollars a copy.

Most Civil War bibliophiles know the basic plot of Crane's classic anti-war tale. It follow the trials and tribulations of Henry Fleming, a young northern recruit in the American Civil War who initially holds to visions of gallantry and grandeur. Although the author was born after the war and never participated in battle, The Red Badge of Courage is considered one of the most important war stories ever written. The story treats with the meaning of courage as the young protagonist Henry Fleming is cast into circumstances that take the full measure of his. For the most part, Fleming tries to make sense of the reality of battle and his own role within it, often arriving at somewhat self-serving and egocentric conclusions. Fleming serves in the fictitious 304th regiment and though the grand battle in which he fights is never named, it has since been identified as Chancellorsville.

One interesting version that has caught my eye is a gorgeous two-volume, slipcased facsimile of the author's original manuscript (see pic at right). Published by NCR/Microcard Editions in 1973, each set has a 7 3/4" x 11 1/4" trim size and was limited to 1000 numbered copies. The first volume is titled "Introduction and Apparatus" and is primarily a serious bibliographical study of the novel and the development of the manuscript. It includes a frontispiece color portrait of Stephen Crane. Volume 2 is the actual facsimile reproduction of Crane's handwritten manuscript which shows his various false starts and changes. All of his "crossouts" and notes are present. Both volumes and slipcase are handsomely bound in red buckram. It appears there are plenty of copies in the secondary market with (IMO) sets reasonably priced anywhere from $50 to $150.