Lichtenchtein

1875 · réf. 50811 — London: Macmillan and Co 1875. Hardcover. 8vo. Blue pebble-grain cloth with extensive gilt and black lettering and decorations. xx 370pp. Top edge gilt. Tissue-guarded frontispiece numerous illustrations several foldouts decorative head- and tailpieces. Very good. Binding a bit edgeworn more so at spine head/tail; text block tight and nice with front inner hinge bearing an old but neat and discreet archival cloth tape reinforcement. Tight and decent third edition. Marie Fox 1850-78 was the adopted daughter of Henry Fox 4th Baron Holland 1802-1859 of Holland House in Kensington near London and Lady Mary Augusta Coventry 1812-89; she married Prince Louis Liechtenstein and in 1874 published a history of the magnificent mansion and its art collection in which she was raised. From the collection of William B. Allison 1829-1908 the powerful Iowa Republican who as U.S. senator from that state 1873-1908 was one of the "big four" who controlled the Senate. Early 20th century bookplate on front pastedown notes "This book is part of Allison Memorial Collection Gift of Mrs. Jennie A. Brayton" and until deaccessioned was part of Allison's non-circulating collection at his hometown public library across the street from his Dubuque residence. According to Leland L. Sage in his 1956 biography "William Boyd Allison: A Study in Practical Politics" Allison owned "hundreds of books on government economics history banking finance and the tariff as well as volumes of American and English literature. An omnivorous reader Allison doubtless read most of these volumes if only for relaxation from the strain that accompanied his efforts to solve the many problems facing the Nation." Senator Allison's mentor and closest confidante was Iowa's Republican third governor 1854-58 and U.S. Senator 1859-69 James W. Grimes 1816-72 and he was close also with Grimes' wife Elizabeth Nealley Grimes 1825-90. During his eight years at the House of Representatives 1863-71 Allison boarded at their home which is where he met his future wife their niece and adopted daughter Mary Nealley 1849-88; they wed in 1873 and she drowned herself in the Mississippi River ten years later. On an inner flyleaf is his large and bold inscription in brown ink to his mother-in-law: "Mrs. Grimes / from / Mr. Allison / Jany.1.1875. / Happy New Year. Macmillan and Co hardcover