Stanton: Lincoln's Secretary of War

New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1953. Hardcover. 8vo. Blue cloth with gilt spine lettering. xiii, 520pp. Frontispiece, 11 maps. Very good. Spine gilt heavily rubbed, else a tight and internally fine copy. Attractive first edition of this highly-regarded biography of Lincoln's powerful cabinet member -- and with intriguing provenance and unique autograph addition: From the collection of Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930-2021), U.S. Senator from Illinois (1969-81) and before him of his father Adlai II (1900-65), Illinois governor and two-time presidential candidate. Tipped to front flyleaf is a fine 4" X 3" printed card (front of which reads "Your comforting expression / of sympathy / is gratefully acknowledged / and deeply appreciated") clearly intended for Governor Stevenson, on the inside of which is boldly penned: "Thank you so / much / Inga Pratt / (Mrs Fletcher Pratt)." Inga Pratt (1906-70) was the second wife of Fletcher Pratt (1897-1956) and a noted artist and book illustrator (including several of her husband's books), and their Manhattan apartment was quite the gathering spot for noted sci-fi writers of the day -- Fletcher wrote sci-fi/fantasy novels. Robert W. Johannsen calls this Stanton work "A popularly written study, emphasizing Stanton's prewar and wartime careers." NEVINS II, 83.