Jefferson, Thomas | The first attempt to comprehensively collect Jefferson's writings

Jefferson, Thomas

The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private. ... by the Editor H.A. Washington. Washington, D.C.: Taylor & Maury, 1853-54

9 vol, 8vo (236 x 150 mm). 1st volume with engraved frontispiece portrait of Jefferson and 4 folding plates reproducing Jefferson's handwritten manuscript for the Declaration of Independence, title-pages, a few quires in volume 4 partially unopened; foxing to plates and frontispiece tissue guard, stray spots throughout, occasional offsetting. In contemporary half brown morocco, boards blindstamped with publisher's device, spine with raised bands in 6 compartments, 2nd compartment and 4th compartment lettered and numbered in gilt, bound for Edwin B. Morgan, with "E.B. Morgan" in gilt at foot of each spine, decorative edges, marbled endpapers; rubbing at extremities with exposure to some corners, some chips to heads and tails of spines.

The first attempt to comprehensively collect Jefferson's writings, with excellent provenance. This set—including essays, papers, correspondence, and a folding facsimile of Jefferson's four-page draft of the Declaration of Independence—supersedes an 1829 edition, which comprised only four volumes. 

The set belonged to American entrepreneur and financier Edwin B. Morgan, whose name appears on the binding. Morgan was the first president of Wells Fargo & Company, the director of American Express, and was elected to the House of Representatives from New York, where he served three terms. He served in Congress from 1852-1858, first elected in 1852 as a Whig, then in 1854 as an Opposition Party candidate, and finally in 1856 as a Republican.

PROVENANCE

Edwin B. Morgan (binding)