Historical and Literary Curiosities, consisting of Fac-similes of Original Documents, Scenes of Remarkable Events and Interesting Localities, and the Birth-Places, Residences, Portraits, and Monuments of Eminent Literary Characters.

4to. [290 x 225 x 50 mm]. [1]f, viii, [96] pp. Bound in contemporary (possibly publisher's) half olive goatskin with gilt fillet borders, marbled paper sides, smooth spine lettered in gilt, marbled endleaves, top edge gilt,the others untrimmed. Edges slightly rubbed as are all parts of the binding (which is still quite sound). The spine is currently being rebacked by the Heritage Bindery. Contents clean. An attractive bright very good copy. with a nice association with a Gift inscription in a small neat hand on blank leaf preceding title-page: "To my dearly beloved wife Lucy Ann Wetmore A Memorial of her life long affection from her husband Prosper M. Wetmore." Wetmore (1798-1876) was an author, legislator, and general in the New York State militia. He was one of the founders of the American Art Union and served as its president for three years as well as the Secretary of the New York Chamber of Commerce in 1843. Wetmore wrote for print frequently. He authored a book of poetry, Lexington with other fugitive poems, about the battle of Lexington, and edited and wrote the prologue to the Deaf poet James Back's book Earl Rupert, and other tales and poems. He was married to Lucy Ann Ogsbury - whom this book is arrested to, and they had twelve children (Wikipedia).
First edition in book form, previously serialized in eight parts from 1836 to 1840. The engraver, Charles John Smith (1803-1838) died after the fifth part, and thereafter the production was finished by Henry George Bohn (1796-1884). The book is illustrated throughout with facsimiles of historical manuscripts and depictions of notable places. The collection constitutes an odd mix, with the 48 historical items included covering everything from the will of Napoleon to the signature of Shakespeare. Nonetheless it was an important publication, and for many of the documents it was the first time they appeared in print. A beautiful copy with a nice association.