Eminent Americans by Benson J. Lossing, Illustrated, 1890

Lossing, Benson J. Eminent Americans: Comprising Brief Biographies of Leading Statesmen, Patriots, Orators and Others, Men and Women, Who Have Made American History. New York: John W. Lovell Company, 1890. Later printing. Illustrated throughout. Rebound in 1/4 navy blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spines, and a new archival slipcase to match.

Presented is an 1890 printing of Eminent Americans: Comprising Brief Biographies of Leading Statesmen, Patriots, Orators and Others, Men and Women, Who Have Made American History by Benson J. Lossing. The book was published in New York by John Lovell Company.  It has been beautifully rebound in 1/4 leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spines and a new archival slipcase to match. 

Originally published in 1855, Lossing continued to add to and update his compendium of Eminent Americans over four decades. This collection of hundreds of short biographies includes names such as Samuel Adams, John Adams, Daniel Boone, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and many others. Numerous entries are accompanied by small portrait engravings, illustrated by Lossing and Barritt. 

The aim of this publishing endeavor was two-fold, “to present such prominent points of character and deed” of the selected eminent Americans, as well as “to excite a desire in the young to know more of these characters and their historical relations, and thus to persuade them to enter upon the pleasant and profitable employment of studying the prominent personas and events of our Republic.”

Benson John Lossing (1813-1891) was born in Dutchess County, New York and became a prominent engraver, illustrator, and historian. He was a part owner and editor of the Poughkeepsie Telegraph, then moved to New York City where he became editor and illustrator for J.S. Rothchild's weekly Family Magazine. He authored over 40 books, including The Home of Washington, a useful Field-Book of the War of 1812, an exhaustively thorough Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, and three volumes on the history of the Civil War, to which Mathew Brady contributed photographs. He was also a charter trustee of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY from 1861 until his death in 1891.

CONDITION:

Good condition overall. Octavo. Rebound in 1/4 navy blue leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spines. Profusely illustrated with engravings. Interior pages are healthy, with minimal toning. Ex-library, with "Library of Birmingham-Southern College" stamped on title page and preface, and library call numbers penciled in red.  Presented with a new archival slipcase to match.

Book Dimensions: 7 3/4" H x 5 1/2" W x 1 1/2" D. Slipcase Dimensions: 8 1/8" H x 5 3/4" W x 2" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.