“HE POSSESSED THE GIFT OF WORDS”: BEAUTIFULLY BOUND SET OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT’S COMPLETE WRITINGS, SIGNED BY HIM

ROOSEVELT, Theodore. Complete Writings. Philadelphia: Gebbie and Co., 1902-03. Twenty-two volumes. Octavo, contemporary full red morocco gilt rebacked with original spines laid down, raised bands, spines and covers decorated with gilt eagles, elaborately gilt-decorated red and green morocco doublures with Roosevelt's monogram, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $16,800.

“Author’s” limited edition, letter N of 26 sets signed by Roosevelt and the publishers in Volume I of The Naval War of 1812, of the writings of the adventurous 26th president of the United States, with engraved plates in double suite and in a handsome deluxe binding.

Includes Roosevelt's histories, biographies, essays and hunting stories published up to the year 1903, including the important The Rough Riders and The Winning of the West. While a student at Harvard, Roosevelt "published (with a friend) a paper of professional quality on birds of the Adirondacks and wrote a senior thesis that called for limited voting rights for women and their 'most absolute equality' in marriage. He also wrote the first two chapters of The Naval War of 1812 (1882), a work of meticulous scholarship acclaimed in British and American naval circles alike… By Roosevelt's graduation the qualities that were to attract, repel, or bemuse his countrymen for four decades became pronounced. He abounded in physical and mental energy, acted often on impulse and at times on shrewd calculation, and generally exuded warmth, affection, and charm. He possessed the gift of words, though he limited their flow with difficulty; and even when he was moralizing, his force and imagery made him unfailingly interesting" (ANB). Frontispiece portrait in Volume I of The Naval War of 1812. Around 30 of the final engraved plates have been signed in pencil by the artists. See Wheelock, 5.

Interiors fine, light age wear to beautiful full-leather binding. An excellent signed set.