Beschreibung:

LINCOLN, Abraham. Signature ("A Lincoln") as President, and place ("Washington") inscribed at the top of a page containing signatures and addresses of subscribers to National Portrait Gallery of Eminent Americans...from...paintings by Alonzo Chappel With...biographical...narratives by Evert A. Duyckinck. New York, 1862. Folio, 261 x 200mm. bound in brown leather over boards, richly embossed, gilt-titled "National Portrait Gallery" on upper cover. (Covers detached, about 16 pages with tears, some repaired, many leaves with marginal soiling from handling, other defects.) LINCOLN AND OTHER SUBSCRIBERS TO A LAVISH COLLECTION OF PORTRAITS OF AMERICAN NOTABLES A unique artifact, attesting to the remarkable industry of an unknown subscription agent who traveled most of the Union-held territories in quest of subscribers to this lavish publication in 1862-63. The album comprises: engraved title, printed title (dated 1862), 56 full-page engraved plates (as samples, these include Washington, Lafayette, Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Stonewall Jackson, etc.), printed Preface, plus 286 blank pages, each with the signature and address of ca.19 individuals, for A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 5434 SIGNATURES. Signatures on pp.1-23 were obtained in New York, pp.24-33 and 51-56 in Washington; other localities represented include Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Chicago, Detroit, etc. A few signers in addition to Lincoln include George Bancroft, Winfield Scott, William C. Bryant, Edwin M. Stanton, Gideon Welles, Edward Bates, William H. Seward, Gen. Irvin Macdowell, Millard Fillmore, William G. Fargo, John Hay, etc.