Description:

Lincoln Abraham



Abraham Lincoln Collector Frederick H. Meserve ALS Re: Portrait of C.S.A. General Joseph O. Shelby

 

1p ALS inscribed overall, and signed by notable Lincoln collector Frederick H. Meserve (1865-1962) as "F.H. Meserve" near bottom. Written in New York City on December 8, 1954. The watermarked cream stationery has "Frederick H. Meserve / 148 East 78th Street / New York 21, N.Y." letterhead. Expected light paper folds, else near fine. 8.5" x 11".

 

Frederick H. Meserve, a world-renown collector of Lincoln and Civil War-era photography, ephemera, maps, and books, wrote Arnold F. Gates (1914-1993), fellow Civil War enthusiast and author:

 

"I am very sorry that I cannot arrange to attend the meeting on Dec. 14 of the Civil War Round Table, but I enclose a portrait of Gen. Joseph O. Shelby C.S.A. which I had prepared for Mr. O'Flaherty. Please tell him it is the only one which I have of the general he will talk about, and I am sorry it is no better."

 

"Mr. O'Flaherty" referred to Daniel O'Flaherty, who examined the life of the Confederate cavalry commander in General Jo Shelby: Undefeated Rebel (University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1954). O'Flaherty was a reporter, magazine contributor, radio executive, and amateur historian. His 437pp monograph had just been published earlier that fall, as a book review appeared in the September 1954 issue of the Journal of American History. O'Flaherty's book only contained one illustration and one map, so Meserve's gift of a portrait of General Shelby arrived too late to be incorporated into the book.

 

Joseph O. Shelby (1830-1897) emerged as one of the most daring Confederate cavalry commanders of the Civil War. Pro-slavery, he took an active part in the Kansas/Missouri border conflict of the 1850s. During the Civil War, Shelby created his "Iron Brigade" of Missouri volunteers whose ranks included Frank and Jesse James. He was promoted to brigadier general after conducting the longest cavalry raid of the Civil War. "Shelby's Raid," conducted between September and November 1863, resulted in 1,000 Union casualties and $2 million of Federal property damage. When the Confederacy collapsed, Shelby and about 1,000 of his guerillas fled to Mexico to offer their military services to Emperor Maximilian. Shelby had returned to the United States by 1867, and later even worked for the federal government!

 

The mission of Civil War Round Table organizations--still very much active today--is to increase understanding of the war's context, battles, participants, and effects. The Chicago chapter was the first such organization established in 1940; Milwaukee followed in 1947, and the District of Columbia in 1951. The New York chapter was co-founded by Meserve and a few others on January 24, 1951. Besides Meserve, another celebrated member of the New York chapter of the Civil War Round Table was Allan Nevins (1890-1971), whose 8-volume Ordeal of the Union examined the causes and denouement of the Civil War.

 

The New York chapter of the Civil War Round Table was just one of the ways that Civil War devotees connected. Members of a specialized community that developed in the mid-twentieth-century United States, they included historians, collectors, autograph dealers, veterans' descendants, freelance writers, history buffs, and reenactment fans. These enthusiasts created a dynamic and rigorous academic environment in which to discuss their favorite subject; they wrote and shared articles and books, met regularly at symposia, and frequently collaborated.  

 

Meserve began collecting Lincolniana in 1897, with the intention of illustrating his father's Civil War diary. Meserve continued collecting over the next sixty years, eventually amassing 200,000 pieces including some previously "lost" or unknown images of Lincoln. Meserve's collection was so esteemed for its completeness that he essentially became the custodian of "Lincoln's image." For example, Meserve was approached by medal and currency engravers, as well as by the sculptors of Lincoln's Memorial Monument, for direct access to his presidential photographs. In 2015, the Meserve-Kunhardt Collection was acquired by the Yale Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library in New Haven, Connecticut.

 

Arnold F. Gates also had a lifelong interest in the Civil War. Gates edited and published works relating to the Civil War period, contributing to such works as the anthology Lincoln for the Ages. His independent monographs include Amberglow of Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed and The Rough Side of War: The Civil War Journal of Chesley A. Mosman, First Lieutenant, Company D, 59th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

 



WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

***Please contact our office for information on third party shippers***


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000