Description:

Garfield James

James Garfield biography, 1st edition Bundy's Illustrated, presented to widow Lucretia Garfield

 

1st edition hardcover copy of Major Jonas Mills Bundy's The Life of Gen. James A. Garfield, Illustrated (New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1880), personally dedicated to Lucretia Garfield around the time of its 5th edition publication. Bundy inscribed on the front fly leaf: "For Mrs. L.A. Garfield: With the sincere regards of J.M. Bundy." The copy was presented to the widowed First Lady sometime in the 1880s.

 

Red marbled boards with feathered accents in white, blue, and orange, with morocco leather bound spine and corners. The spine is gilt embossed "Life of Garfield." In near fine condition. A few discolored spots located on the last pages of the book, and expected light scuffs to the spine. Minor tear to front cover hinge. Measures 12mo, or 5.25" x 7.5" x 1".

 

The 239pp book is divided into 20 chapters, arranged thematically and chronologically, which chronicle James Garfield's life up until his recent Republican Party presidential nomination. The volume features approximately 8 illustrations and maps, some full-page, including a handsome frontispiece portrait of Garfield to the left of the title page, with original intact tissue guard. It reproduces some of Garfield's correspondence as well as one of his most famous speeches. One of the book's appendices even considers "Garfield in the Light of Phrenology"! (The shape, size, and contours of Garfield's head revealed that he was highly intelligent.)

 

The most poignant aspect of this biography is that it is unfinished, published a little over a year before Garfield's assassination. Adopting the literary style then popular, Bundy rhapsodized in the book's conclusion: "And so as long as poor American boys may feel that the highest of earthly offices is attainable by such methods as Garfield has followed, so long the boldest of all experiments in government will continue to baffle all the evil predictions of its enemies, and to surpass in its beneficence the most glowing dreams of its friends." --The dramatic irony is palpable.

 

James Garfield (1831-1881), a college-educated lawyer, served as an Ohio delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1863 and 1880. The Civil War veteran did not wish to run as a Republican candidate for President in 1880, but he won anyway. On July 2, 1881, President Garfield was shot in a Washington train station lounge by disgruntled office seeker Charles J. Guiteau. The second bullet lodged near Garfield’s pancreas but was irretrievable despite Alexander Graham Bell’s attempts to locate the bullet using the newly developing science of metal detection. After two and a half months of excruciating convalescence in the White House and along the New Jersey shore--where he was probed by many doctors unfamiliar with basic germ theory--Garfield died from complications of an infection at age forty-nine.



Lucretia Garfield (1832-1918), or “Crete” as she was lovingly called by her husband of twenty-three years, impressed many by her strength and stoicism in the months and years following her husband’s death. Lucretia became involved in preserving records related to her husband’s presidency in the thirty-six years before her death in the spring of 1918.

 

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. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. 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