1st Ed. JEFFERSON DAVIS A MEMOIR by WIFE w/ SIGNIFICANT 1898 VARINA DAVIS LETTER

Description

I am listing some nice Antique Book & Historical Ephemera Items this week, including some nice Old Civil War Related Books from a local historian's estate. This includes a 1st Edition 2-Vol. Set of the Memoir of Jefferson Davis by his wife, Varina, which has a wonderful and significant original 1898 Letter by Varina Davis concerning the sale of the Davis estate "Beauvoir" in Mississippi attached into the front of Vol. 1. Also a copy of a biography of General Robert E. Lee with nice 1903 Presentation Inscription by the author, Fitzhugh Lee, General Lee's nephew and Confederate General in front. Other select 19thC Civil War and Southern Slavery Related Books from same estate as well.
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Here is an
1890 FIRST EDITION 2-VOLUME SET of
"JEFFERSON DAVIS. EX-PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. A MEMOIR"
by his wife, VARINA DAVIS. New York: Belford Company, Publishers. 1890.
This copy has lightly attached into the front of Volume 1, a wonderful, detailed, 4-sided letter written by VARINA JEFFERSON DAVIS dated March 4, 1898 concerning the sale of the Davis' Mississippi estate "Beauvoir" with detailed description of the property and conditions for the sale.
The letter was originally lightly attached to front blank leaf by two pieces of cloth tape (now attached by just one of the two pieces of tape). I am not sure who the letter is written to. A few of the words I had trouble reading. Here is a transcription of the letter as best as I can read:
"My very Dear Friend, I saw Mr. Alney(?) and he gave me your opinion about the sale of Beauvoir and I then wrote to Mr. Maginnis(?) and told him. He thinks we could not sell the whole tract for less, there is so much land, but that we could sell to the railroad for ,000 or 30,000- I will sell it for ,000 if that sum can be raised for the old soldiers, but would not sell it to any other people for anything like that amount. There are three & --?-- houses on the place and four more which can be used besides the stalls. There are many acres and many fine trees in the lot about the house, I suppose in the lot & garden sixteen & there are eight acres in a vineyard of well grown vines with land enough to support twenty people & grow vegetables for food or sale. She is a swift running branch of water back of the house which is never dry- and there are I think three wells on the place besides a large cistern above ground. The house is in perfect repair & has a very large slate roof in perfect order- The house cost 40,000 to build and is not decayed any where- I would not make this reduction for any one in the world but for the veterans, but if this is not satisfactory to the dear & good women who are trying to keep the poor battled & scarred old men, I am afraid I can do no more. The price of the place is what my daughter has to look forward to buy herself a house and increase her income enough to enable her to live in the future. Not a wood(?) of the land is mine so I only enter into it on her account. I will leave some plain useful furniture there for the use of the veterans, but not I fear as much as I hoped to do. Will you, dear old friend, convey this my Mississippi sisters with the ardent wish on my part that I could do more than I can promise. I have news from your and my Winnie which has eased my mind greatly. She is in Cairo and well. I wish I could hear the same of you. With many prayers for you and most tender love, always your friend- V. Jefferson Davis. The Gerard, 44th St. W. March 4, 1898".
Great content. Varina was residing at the Hotel Gerard in New York at the time. Varina eventually would sell "Beauvoir" in 1903 for the token sum of ,000 to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, with the stipulations that it would be operated as a Confederate soldier's home, with the house itself to be kept as a shrine to Jefferson Davis. Varina's daughter, Winnie, was in control of the property at this time. Sadly, Winnie would die just six months after this letter was written in Sept. 1898, attributed to malarial gastritis.
Condition:
The set is in acceptable condition. The text block of
Vol.1
is separated from the binding at the spine, but still attached. The previous historian's collection circle symbol in pencil in corner of front end paper along with pencil info notes concerning this set on blank leaf opposite the page with attached letter.
Vol.2
has the same collector's circle symbol in pencil on front end paper. No other marking in books I noticed. There is a stick-tear area near upper left corner of the rear end page of Vol.2. There is wear and scuffing to exteriors of both volumes. Interior pages are mostly all clean in both volumes, with some of the typical spotting on the tissue-lined frontispiece and title page of Vol.2. This set is coming fresh out of a local Southeastern Massachusetts former historian's estate. Guaranteed to be an original Varina Davis letter.
Book will be boxed with care for buyer. INSURANCE INCLUDED in the shipping total.
S
tate sales tax may apply depending on your state's ebay new tax collection guidelines.
Look for my other nice Civil War Books and Old Ephemera I am listing as well.
See listing for payment and shipping details. Payment is due within 5 days after auction end. Item is usually shipped within 2 business days after payment is received. My normal shipping days are Mon-Thurs. Feel free to email me with any questions. Thanks for looking!