See Signed Books From George Washington's Library
By Julia Weeman in Arts & Entertainment on May 19, 2013 8:15PM
Photo courtesy of Sotheby's
The Library Of A Distinguished American Book Collector At Sotheby's includes the most signed books by George Washington to come to a single auction since 1904. This historic auction will take place on June 4 in New York and the collection is anticipated to fetch over $5 million. The collection includes 250 lots, highlighted by 7 books from Washington's Mount Vernon library that feature his signature on the title page and his bookplate.
Also included in the sale is the 1754 Journal of George Washington, his account of the French and Indian War prepared for the House of Burgesses, and a letter with his signature regarding securing New York City during the Revolutionary War. Several first editions, among which include Moby Dick and several of Mark Twain's works will be up for auction along with copies of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, and an inscribed first edition and proof copy of Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence of Arabia.
Highlights from the sale will be on view in Sotheby's Chicago offices at 188 East Walton Place from May 20-21. This collection of books from Washington's library "reflects the collector's great intellectual curiousity and eclectic interests, as well as a deeply held passion for American history," said Sotheby's in a press release. On display in Chicago, you also can see political debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas inscribed by Lincoln to Job Fletcher, two copies of the 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune with the famous incorrect headline "Dewey Defeats Truman" and a signed photo of Harry Truman holding the paper.