The Illustrated Life of Washington by Hon. J. T. Headley {with} Mount Vernon As It Is by Benson Lossing, 1859

Headley, Joel T. The Illustrated Life of Washington. Giving an Account of his Early Adventures and Enterprises, His Magnanimity and Patriotism, his Revolutionary Career, his Presidential Life, and His Final Decease. With Vivid Pen-Paintings of Battles and Incidents, Trials and Triumphs of the Heroes and Soldiers of Revolutionary Times. [together with] Lossing, Benson J. Mount Vernon As It Is. New York: G & F. Bill, 1859. Large Octavo. Period red cloth boards with pictorial gilt embossed embellishments and titles, marbled foreedge. Illustrated throughout with wood engravings and color lithographs. 

Presented is an 1859 printing of Joel T Headley’s The Illustrated Life of Washington and Benson J. Lossing’s Mount Vernon As It Is. Issued by subscription only, this book was published by G & F. Bill, in New York in 1859. Both titles are bound together, presented in the publisher’s striking red cloth boards, stamped and titled in stunning gilt designs, with a marbled fore-edge. As the title of the first book would imply, the volume is profusely illustrated throughout, with black and white illustrations and color lithographic plates.

The Illustrated Life of Washington aims to tell the story of our first President through illustrations, From scenes of his childhood, life as the commander of the Continental Army, his presidential trials and tribulations, and his time spent with his family at Mount Vernon, the whole of Washington's life is laid out for readers in numerous steel and wood engravings and lithographic plates. 

Mount Vernon As It Is covers everything from George Washington’s boyhood at Mount Vernon, to the design of the grounds and architecture of the house, to the familial objects in each room. In 1859, the Mount Vernon estate passed from the possession of George Washington’s family to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Lossing describes Mount Vernon as he found it during a visit in October 1858, "the last of my several pilgrimages to the home and tomb of Washington,” as well as during previous trips. His intent was to see, document and describe Mount Vernon “as it is, before the gentle hands of our patriotic countrywomen, now extended to arrest the ravages of decay, shall transform the objects upon which Washington's eyes once looked with delight from melancholy vestiges of former symmetry and beauty to their original shape and brightness..."

Joel Tyler Headley (1813- 1897) was born in Walton, New York. He studied to become a lawyer and then switched career paths and studied theology at the Auburn Theological Seminary. After he was ordained, he preached at Stockbridge, Massachusetts, but soon turned to history writing. He wrote several books on George Washington, Napoleon, and the generals of the Civil War, in addition to travel writings about Italy and the Adirondacks. He worked as an associate editor of the New York Tribune and later served as Secretary of State of New York.

Benson John Lossing (1813-1891) was born in Dutchess County, New York and became a prominent engraver, illustrator, and historian. He was a part owner and editor of the Poughkeepsie Telegraph, then moved to New York City where he became editor and illustrator for J.S. Rothchild's weekly Family Magazine. He authored over 40 books, including a useful Field-Book of the War of 1812, an exhaustively thorough Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, and three volumes on the history of the Civil War, to which Mathew Brady contributed photographs. He was also a charter trustee of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY from 1861 until his death in 1891.

CONDITION:

Large Octavo. Period red cloth boards with pictorial gilt embossed embellishments and titles. Bumping to the spine. Boards have light scuffing and scratches from past use and wear, although most of the gilt is still intact. Marbled foreedge, with colors faded but intact. Illustrated with wood and steel engravings and color lithographs. Large fold-out view of Mount Vernon. Scattered foxing and soiling throughout. 528 pp. 

Book Dimensions: 9 1/4" H x 6 3/8" W x 2" D. 

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.