Description:

HARRY H. BEECHER
(1806 - 1889) Civil War surgeon attached to the 114th Regiment, New York State Volunteers, distinguished himself in the Battle of Pleasant Hill. He would later author several important books on Civil War history. Interesting A.L.S. 8pp. 8vo., May 5, 1870, Norwich, New York. Beecher goes into extensive detail describing the problems he incurred publishing his acclaimed volume The History of the 114th Regiment, in small part: "...I was upon the point of sending you a copy of my Record of the 114th...I have several styles of my work with prices as follows: Cloth - $2.50...I expected to have a uniform cloth edition of about 450 pages at $2.50; but I soon found that I could not compose the matter...so I increased it to its present size, adding also the plates which were not presently considered and extended by nearly one-quarter the actual cost. A price was named and advertised and subscribed to at $3.00 per copy...over 2000 copies but have not been able to deduce much money in the enterprise as yet, one or two rascally agents having appropriated quite an amount of my money...". Beecher continues to try to sell the recipient the cloth bindings and pages from un-fabricated books and unbound editions for 27 cents per copy: "...I have proud satisfaction of knowing that my feeble efforts have proved acceptable to the gallant men of my Regiment and their friends for whom will benefit. Copies of the record have found its way transported to other lands and the islands across the sea...". Ironically, Beecher's "acclaimed" volume would not receive a proper printing and distribution until 1908, nineteen years after his death! Toned at folds, else very good.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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