Beschreibung:

JOHN BOOS’ COLLECTION OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF LINCOLN. Collection of over 125 letters and manuscripts (autograph and typescript), annotated signatures and statements, mostly uniform 8vo, bound into 5 thematic volumes in the 1930s, various places, 1860s and 1910s-1930s, being the collection of personal statements compiled by John Boos later published as Rare Personal Accounts of Abraham Lincoln (a copy of which is included in this lot), fine condition. John Boos [1879-1974] spent decades collecting the autographs and statements of those who had personal encounters with Abraham Lincoln and Civil War officers (one part). The result is a fascinating compilation of revelatory detail, written by attendees at the Lincoln-Douglas debates, soldiers in the Civil War, an actress in company with John Wilkes Booth, an attendee at Lincoln’s death in the Peterson House, etc. Boos mailed blank uniform octavo leaves on which the recipients could write or type their reminiscences. Boos bound the letters and statements together with his own typescript annotations, indices, occasional illustrations (included in pagination below) and some ephemera. The published book is divided into eight parts, the original autograph material for six of those parts is present here: 1. "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates," (2 parts in the published book), 148 pp. In which we learn that Lincoln at least once wore Kentucky jeans to a debate and that he had a habit of bending his knees and then quickly rising to his full height when he wanted to emphasize a point. From the recollection of E.H. Strait: “Lincoln and Douglas came on the Same Train. There was a large crowd to meet them at the train and escort them to the Speakers Stand in the Public Park. This was about one pm the Speaking commenced very Soon and lasted until 4 Pm or after as to Mr Douglas everyone knew he was Something of a Drinker and he looked it on the stand. Mr Lincoln Spoke first Some hooting and hand Slapping at times but not much interuption then Douglas got to talking Everything was quiet along in his winding up he accused Lincoln of being a Saloon Keeper and Bar Tender after he finished, Lincoln got up to reply and Said Ladies and Gentleman Mr Douglas tells you I was a Saloon keeper and Bar tender and I acknowledg the truth of it but while I was officiating on one Side of the Bar Mr Douglass was a constant attendant on the other Side, now listen I can still hear the clapping and Shouting for at least five minutes it was great at the end there was a great rush to get to Shake hands with Mr Lincoln…” (from the debate in Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858). From the Galesburg debate on October 7, 1858, Charles Blanchard recalls, “Douglass was short and fleshy, Mr. Lincoln tall, lean and gaunt. I think I was chiefly impressed in the debate by the different way in which the two debaters addressed each other. Mr Lincoln spoke of Mr Douglass as ‘my opponent,’ ‘the Senator,’ ‘Senator Douglas,’ etc. as I remember, Mr Douglas’s habitual designations for Mr Lincoln were ‘Old Abe,’ ‘the rail splitter,’ ‘Abe Lincoln,’ etc., etc … as I recall it, Mr. Douglass seemed irritated, Mr. Lincoln at peace with himself … P.S. Mr. Douglass was dressed elegantly. Lincoln’s clothing seemed as if he had never given it a thought….” 2. "The Rock of Chickamauga. George H. Thomas ” 96 pp. Including letters written by General George Henry Thomas in the 1860s: from Nashville, Tenn in June, 1866: “I remember very well that in answer to Chaplain Van Horns inquiry of me whether or not he should have the dead buried by states I answered that I wanted them buried in such a manner as to create the impression of National Care not sectional or State, as we had had enough of States Rights.” And from a soldier who fought under Thomas, recalling the 1864 election: “The vote for A. Lincoln & Johnson at Pulaski S.W. Tenn. Was 129. Lincoln. And 9. For McClelland—Many of the boys were not old enough to vote I was 3 days over 21. Many of the voters w