Description:

James Garfield
ca. 1854-1858
"French Lessons" Bearing James Garfield's Hand Written 28 Word Quote About Cicero Also Signed by His Future Wife Lucretia Rudolph - Envelope Free Franked, "J. A. Garfield / MC"
Books

On the first free flyleaf, James Garfield has written in pencil "Chapsal Noël." The principal work of French grammarian Charles Pierre Chapsal (1787–1858) was "Nouvelle Grammaire Française" (1823) in which he collaborated with French humanist François Noël (1756-1841). Signed beneath this in light pencil: "Lucretia Rudolph. / Hiram." On the inside back cover, Lucretia as written in pencil ten full names, possibly classmates or friends. Beneath Lucretia's signature are six lines written in pencil by James A. Garfield: "It was no fault of Ciceros / that treason had eaten / into the hearts core of / the Commonwealth and / that men were now / willing to be Slaves." The blank lower right corner of this page is missing. Affixed opposite this page, inside the front cover, is a 2.75" x 1.5" label imprinted "Inter Folia Fructus / Library of / James A. Garfield." From "The Life of James A. Garfield" by Charles Carleton Coffin (Boston: James H. Earle, 1880):

"A New Method of Learning the French Language embracing both the Analytic and Synthetic Modes of Instruction being a Plain and Practical Way of Acquiring the Art of Reading, Speaking, and Composing French on the plan of Woodbury's Method with German" by Louis Fasquelle. Twentieth Edition. Ivison & Phinney, 1854. Impressed ornate "I&P" design on covers; chipped spine, upper portion missing, with gilt lettering "Fasquelle's / French Course / on the Plan of / Woodbury's / Method with German." Back hinge torn. Pages soiled, some foxing; portions of text block loose. Boards and spine professionally restored to good condition. Envelope addressed in manuscript, free franked, "J. A. Garfield / M. C." laid in. In a presentation folder with inside flaps, housed in a custom brown-cloth covered slipcase with "New Method / of Learning / the French / Language / Fasquelle" stamped in gilt on a black leather label at the top of the spine and, on lower portion, also in gilt, "James Garfield's / Copy / 1854."

"He had been three years at Chester, two at Hiram … He pushed the plane and worked as carpenter, shingled houses, — doing anything in that line that he could turn his hand to. Many of the houses in the village of Hiram were covered with boards, which were planed and nailed upon the joists by this student, with a great purpose in view. When he was making the shavings fly in the early morning before breakfast, he was going over his lessons for the day. When making the welkin ring with his pounding, he was at the same time hammering away at Cicero or Sallust [Roman historian…" Cicero's "On the Commonwealth and On the Laws" was his first attempt to adapt Greek theories of political life to the circumstances of the Roman Republic. James Garfield refers to Cicero and Commonwealth in his notation.

The first Presidential memorial library, completed at the Lawnfield estate in Ohio by the widow of James Garfield four years after his assassination, houses almost 3,000 books that were used and treasured by the 20th president. Books were a scarce commodity to young James, who lost his father before the age of two, and was raised by his mother who struggled to maintain a humble existence. Both James Garfield and his wife Lucretia were voracious readers and amassed a large collection of books. Some twenty years ago, several dozen of his books were de-accessioned, and here we have one of these books.

"In 1849, Garfield's mother persuaded him to enter Geauga Academy in Chester, Ohio, which was about ten miles from his home. During his vacations he learned and practiced carpentry and helped at harvest, he taught and did anything and everything to get money to pay for his schooling. After his first term, he needed no aid from home, he had reached the point were he was self-sufficient. While at Chester, he met a Miss Lucretia Rudolph, his future wife. He was attracted at first by her interest in the same intellectual pursuits, and he quickly discovered sympathy in other tastes and a congeniality of disposition, which paved the way for the one great love of his life … On November 11, 1858, James A. Garfield married Lucretia Rudolph, his fellow student at Geauga Academy."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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