History of the Atlantic Telegraph

New York: Charles Scribner & Co.. Very Good-. 1866. First Edition. Hardcover. (dark green buckram; no dust jacket) [a decent, solid copy, with moderate overall wear, slight exposure of boards at several corners, gilt spine lettering somewhat dulled but still fully readable, light foxing to pages throughout; gift inscription from the year of publication on ffep (see notes), another former owner's signature on first page of Preface]. First edition of what became the standard history of the laying of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable, which had actually happened in three stages: the first cable, laid between Ireland and Newfoundland from 1854 to 1858, failed after just three weeks of service; a second cable, laid in 1865, broke in the middle of its installation and was abandoned; the third attempt, however, was successful, and since it was brought into service on July 27, 1866, there has been a permanent cable link between Europe and America (although I don't believe too many telegrams are being sent these days). This book, by the way, was available in bookstores barely two weeks later -- an "instant book," as it were, about a still-fresh and exciting news story. (And if you wonder about journalistic access, it might also be noted that the author was the brother of Cyrus W. Field, the primary mover and shaker behind the Atlantic Telegraph Company.) Now about the inscription in this copy: it reads "Benjamin T. Longstreth / from his affable / Aunt Susan / 12ms.[?] 25th. 1866." (If I'm interpreting that "12ms." correctly, I take it to mean December, i.e. that this was a Christmas gift from Aunt Susan to Mr. Longstreth.) The additional signature, at the top of the first page of the Preface, indicates that the book's next owner was one Edith Lucile Mary Nelson of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, who apparently acquired it on July 17, 1918. .