Grouping of two sets of books (in 4 volumes) and a pamphlet related to Senator John Sherman, General William T. Sherman’s younger brother. The lot includes:

1. John Sherman. John Sherman's Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet. Chicago, etc: The Werner Company, 1895. 2 volumes. Original deluxe calf gilt with marbled boards. LIMITED SIGNED FIRST EDITION No. 358 of 1000. With "P. Tecumseh Sherman" bookplate.

2. John Sherman. An Address Commemorative of General William T. Sherman, Delivered April 6, 1892, Before the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. N.p.: N.p., [1892]. 8vo. Original wrappers. First edition. "P.T. Sherman" signed to front wrapper. Very rare, no copies have ever sold at auction and OCLC locates only 12 copies.

3. John Sherman. John Sherman's Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet. Chicago, etc: The Werner Company, 1895. 2 volumes.Original illustrated brown cloth gilt.

John Sherman, William's younger brother, had a successful legal career in Cleveland but turned his attention to politics after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. A strident abolitionist, he decided to run for office and was elected to the United States House of Representatives the same year. In 1861, Sherman was elected by the Ohio Legislature to take the vacant Senate seat left by Salmon P. Chase, who had been appointed Secretary of Treasury. During his tenure, Sherman served on the Senate Finance Committee and regularly participated in debate over the conduct of the war. John Sherman served in various roles of importance in government after the war and is perhaps best remembered for proposing the Sherman Antitrust Act, which bears his name. William and John maintained a close relationship throughout their lives, exchanging regular correspondence.

PROVENANCE:

The Sherman-Fitch Library

Primarily assembled by General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891), the collection of books was inherited and curated by his son, Philemon Tecumseh Sherman (1867-1941). Before his death, Philemon transferred the library to his niece, Eleanor Sherman Fitch (1876-1959). Eleanor was the granddaughter of General Sherman through his eldest daughter, Maria "Minnie" Ewing Sherman Fitch (1851-1913). Until now, the Sherman-Fitch library was held at the family estate in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

The library includes a range of diverse material owned by General Sherman that principally relates to the Civil War, American history, and the Sherman family. Many works in the Sherman-Fitch library are historically significant, including General Sherman's annotated copy of Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs, the Sherman family bible, and Barnard's "Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign."

Most examples in the collection are affixed with bookplates that bear both General Sherman's and Philemon's names. In some cases, where General Sherman's ownership was clear, his bookplate was not always affixed. However, books with just Philemon's bookplate were generally acquired after his father's death in 1891. General Sherman’s bookplates were likely added by Philemon after his father’s death. Philemon’s bookplates were placed by Tecumseh Sherman Fitch (1908-1969) after he inherited the library in 1942.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Books, Politics, Ephemera]