SHERMAN FAMILY COPY OF WILLIAM T. SHERMAN'S FIRST EDITION MEMOIRS.

William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891). Memoirs of General William T. Sherman. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1875. 2 volumes, 8vo. Original blue cloth gilt. First edition. Nevins II 89; Sabin 80416.

Bibliographer Nevins eloquently summarized Sherman's autobiography: "oft-consulted and much-quoted reminiscences...Sherman wrote as he fought; dynamically and bluntly".

A copy descended directly from the Sherman Family, likely owned by the General himself during his lifetime.

Condition: minor even toning to pages.

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, Generals, Biographies, Memoirs, Books, Ephemera]