Buttre, J, C. Portraits and Sketches of the Lives of all the Candidates for the Presidency…1806 Campaign Biography

Description

Of all the 1860 presidential campaign biographies’, this is the most beautiful; and it is excessively scarce. 

John Chester Buttre was not only a publisher but also an excellent engraver, printing any number of excellent Civil War era engravings and lithographs, many hand-colored. 

The engravings accompanying the various candidate’s biographical sketches are of excellent quality, with that of Lincoln leading off. Buttre engraved the portraits for the Wide-Awake Edition (Wesson 8, Campaign Lives of Abraham Lincoln, 1860) and yet another set of plates for Follett, Foster & Co. for Howells’ life of Lincoln. 

Wesson notes that Buttre “had the “effrontery” to advertise this book on June 8, 1860 “being on…news-stands,” although a few of the candidates had not as yet been nominated.  Many of the advertisements are for Lincoln-related images or publications. 

Excellent, the best we’ve handled; as usual, the engraved images offset themselves on the opposite page. 

(Lincoln 1860 Presidential Campaign) Buttre, J. C.  PORTRAITS AND SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE PRESIDENCY AND VICE-PRESIDENCY, FOR 1860.  COMPRISING EIGHT PORTRAITS ENGRAVED ON STEEL, FACTS IN THE LIFE OF EACH, THE FOUR PLATFORMS, THE CINCINNATI PLATFORM, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.  N.Y.:  J. C. Buttre, late July 1860.   8vo.; 32p + 4p. of advertisements; buff printed wrappers; all tissue guards intact.  Bound in later ¾-cloth boards (for protection) and early marbled boards; leather spine label.