WEST POINT CADET LEDGER An unusual piece of militaria, a small 4to. leather bound pre-printed ledger book, printed specifically for the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The ledger was designed to allow each cadet to keep accurate accounts balancing the duties they performed against their expenses. This account book was maintained by Cadet Jacob Fordney Kreps, a member of the Class of 1883. Kreps would serve in various posts including a tour of Cuba during the Spanish American War, and as a provisional provincial governor in the Philippines during the insurrection. He would later lead the first military detachment to reach the center of San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake. This account covers his entire stay at West Point from 1879 to 1883. Each page bears a pre-printed titling "Cadet ____ in Account Current with the Treasurer of the MILITARY ACADEMY". The opening page, from the summer of 1879 notes all the basics purchased by a new cadet upon entering the academy including this account book ($1.25), a mattress, blankets, a chair, broom, a helmet, and other sundries. Each successive pair of pages accounts for two months of activity including $90 in pay with deduction for board, laundry, baths, "Policing Barracks" and even "Use of Dictionary" (costing a nominal five cents).The opposite page lists other sundries purchased by Kreps including uniforms, coats, stationery, tobacco, toiletries and the like. A fascinating look into the daily life of a West Point Cadet in the late nineteenth century. Pages very clean, boards bear some rubbing with some damage to spine, otherwise very good. $150-250