Details
OLIVER, William. Eight Months in Illinois; with Information to Emigrants. Newcastle Upon Tyne: William Andrew Mitchell, 1843.
12o (192 x 112 mm). Original cloth, gilt-lettered on spine (some light wear at extremities). Provenance: William Carruthers (inscription on first text leaf: "William Carruthers of Longburnsheals near Hawick, Scotland's Book March 10th 1853," his pencil note on rear flyleaf: "I should like to say something either entertaining or useful upon this page..."); A. Henderson, Leeds (bookplate and his note on front free endpaper: "To be kept clean 29 May 1845 Memento mori or Remember Death America"); Thomas W. Streeter (bookplate; his sale part III, Parke Bernet, 24 October 1967, lot 1478; purchased from Wright Howes, 1941).
FIRST EDITION. Oliver went to Illinois to investigate its potential for settlement for emigrants. The preface describes its intentions: "It may be said that there is no need of books on America--an assertion which, as regards certain classes, may be true; but many of the books on that country are expensive, and no single work on Illinois, with which the author is acquainted, enters sufficiently into details for the poor emigrant" (p.[v]).
"As Oliver was a highly intelligent observer and knew how to write, this is a distinctly worthwhile book on the southern part of Illinois and the author's journey there from New York. The 'eight months' were in the years 1841 and 1842" (Thomas W. Streeter, his note). The work is rare, and Thomas W. Streeter notes in pencil on the front free endpaper: "Graff told me Feb 11 1941 that he and Littell paid considerably more [than the $100 he paid] for their copies." Buck 375; Clark Old South III:219; Howes O-71; Jones 1078; Sabin 57214; Streeter sale III: 1478 (this copy).
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FIRST EDITION. Oliver went to Illinois to investigate its potential for settlement for emigrants. The preface describes its intentions: "It may be said that there is no need of books on America--an assertion which, as regards certain classes, may be true; but many of the books on that country are expensive, and no single work on Illinois, with which the author is acquainted, enters sufficiently into details for the poor emigrant" (p.[v]).
"As Oliver was a highly intelligent observer and knew how to write, this is a distinctly worthwhile book on the southern part of Illinois and the author's journey there from New York. The 'eight months' were in the years 1841 and 1842" (Thomas W. Streeter, his note). The work is rare, and Thomas W. Streeter notes in pencil on the front free endpaper: "Graff told me Feb 11 1941 that he and Littell paid considerably more [than the $100 he paid] for their copies." Buck 375; Clark Old South III:219; Howes O-71; Jones 1078; Sabin 57214; Streeter sale III: 1478 (this copy).