Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1858

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1928. Hardcover. Complete 4-volume set. Small 4to. Black cloth with gilt spine lettering. xxvi, 297pp; vi, 310pp; vi, 361pp; vi, 381pp. Frontispieces, illustrations. Very good. Faintest binding edgewear only -- internally tight and fine; Lincoln-theme bookplate on each front pastedown with collector's tiny name neatly excised. "Standard Library Edition" of Beveridge's hefty biography incomplete at the time of his death. This copy bears choice autograph addition: Tipped facing the first volume half-title page is a Typed Letter Signed from Beveridge, 1p, 8" X 10", Indianapolis, IN, 17 October 1899. Addressed to Adrian H. Joline (1850-1912), a New York attorney and devoted autograph collector who authored such books as "Meditations of an Autograph Collector" (1902) and "Rambles in Autograph Land" (1913). Very good. Faint original folds. On "United States Senate" letterhead, the just-minted senator who'd only been in office seven months "introduce[s] to you, Mr. Francis E. Stevens of Columbus, Indiana, who desires to settle in New York and become a lawyer. Mr. Stevens is an excellent young man, of good habits, trustworthy, capable and industrious. I would be very much obliged to you indeed if you will help Mr. Stevens in every possible way. The favor will be well bestowed. I trust it may be possible for you to find a place for him in your office." Boldly signed, with a New York address pencilled beneath ("68 W. 38th St.") presumably in Joline's hand. Beveridge (1862-1927) was a noted Indiana senator (1899-1911) who won the 1920 Pulitzer prize for his 4-volume "Life of John Marshall," but it is for his mammoth biography of Abraham Lincoln that he is best remembered; it was only half finished when he died on 27 April 1927 at age 64 and thus only runs up through the year 1858. Sharp set of this handsome quartette, with interesting content author letter. MONAGHAN 2999.