The Military and Naval History of the Rebellion in the United States, 1865 (SOLD)

This book measures 7” x 10” x 3” and has over 850 pages. This massive undertaking was by W.J. Tenney and published by D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1865. This book is a rare first-hand account of the Civil War, started before the war even ended. It provides details on battles and troop movements such as Gettysburg, biographical sketches of notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln, and messages regarding emancipating slavery and governmental policies.

This rare first edition includes portraits, hand-colored engravings, a large pull-out map, illustrations of firearms, etc. Hand-coloring, of course, increased the cost of the plates, and books containing them, generally up to twice the cost of uncolored copies. On the engravings and portraits, there are tissue guards placed between a plate's pictorial page & the opposing page.

The leather covers are tight and secure – the rear cover has some slight distortion, but it does not affect the overall look. Sometimes the portraits and engravings in this book were removed to be framed and sold separately. This book is in nice condition, so it is complete with the engravings.

It is a rare opportunity to have such a record of first-hand accounts of the Civil War. Decades after the war such information became cloudy, or even misrepresented. It was the first publication to cover every aspect of the war while it was still going on. This rare book would make a centerpiece for any Civil War library.