"A LANDMARK WORK ON CONFEDERATE NAVAL HISTORY": IMPORTANT FIRST EDITION OF SCHARF'S MASTERFUL HISTORY, 1887, UNCUT AND UNOPENED IN ORIGINAL BOARDS

SCHARF, John Thomas. History of the Confederate States Navy from its Organization to the Surrender of its Last Vessel. New York: Rogers & Sherwood, 1887. Thick octavo, original tan paper boards, original paper spine label, uncut and unopened. $1100.

First edition of Scharf's mammoth Confederate naval history—"the best on its subject"—with 42 full-page woodcut-engraved plates and numerous in-text illustrations, an especially handsome copy, uncut and unopened in original boards.

"This is a landmark work on Confederate naval history, written with the authority of an Confederate naval officer who experienced action in the war. It constitutes a general survey of all Confederate operations at sea and on rivers" (Eicher 15). Scharf served as a midshipman in the Confederate navy in 1863 and produced, among many other works, this History of the Confederate States Navy, "still unsurpassed in its wealth of information" (In Tall Cotton 162) and considered "the best on its subject" (Nevins I:233). In-text illustrations include maps and diagrams of ships and torpedoes. Howes S147. Wright 105.

Interior fresh and bright, mild soiling, trace of edge-wear to spine label and original boards. An exceptional unrestored copy, in about-fine condition.