The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln: Volumes I-IV

New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1953. Hardcover. First four volumes (out of 9). 8vo. Blue cloth with gilt spine lettering. xxiii, 519pp; ix, 553pp; ix, 555pp; ix, 563pp. Illustrations. Very good. Very faintest of binding wear and spines a bit rubbed, else overall tight and internally fine. Attractive, tight "History Book Club" edition of the first four volumes (covering Lincoln's earliest years up through 1861) of this 9-volume set, with interesting autograph addition: Tipped opposite title page of the first volume is a Typed Note Signed from assistant editor Marion D. Pratt, 1p, 8¼" X 10½", Springfield, IL, 20 March 1953. Addressed to noted Lincoln and Civil War scholar Arnold Gates (1914-93). Writing on "The Abraham Lincoln Association" letterhead, Pratt chats cordially about this set's primary editor Roy Basler: "Dr. Basler is now with the Library of Congress; his home address is.... When he left the employ of the Association in August, 1952, he had cut the order for both the September and December 1952 issues of the Abraham Lincoln Quarterly since it had been decided by the directors in the Spring that it would suspend publication after the December issue. Therefore, we have no 'extras' besides those which were necessary for our members...." Boldly signed in full by her in black ink; she also crosses off Basler's printed name from the list of "Officers" at the bottom of the page. Marion's husband Harry (1901-56) served as Illinois state historian and authored and edited a prolific array of Lincoln-related titles, but she (1907-63) was a noted Lincoln scholar in her own right, serving as assistant editor on this set and other works. From the collection of Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930-2021), who served as U.S. Senator from Illinois (1969-81).