"THE MOST POPULAR LINCOLN BIOGRAPHY YET WRITTEN": INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY CARL SANDBURG
(LINCOLN) SANDBURG, Carl. Abraham Lincoln. The Prairie Years. New York: Harcourt, Brace, (1946). Two volumes. Octavo, original navy cloth gilt. $750.
Second trade edition, later printing, of the initial two volumes in Sandburg's monumental biography of Lincoln, inscribed by Sandburg on the front free endpaper of Volume I: "Robert and Kate Kestnbaum, Ever good wishes, Carl Sandburg, 1959."
Sandburg grew up in the Knox County neighborhoods with which Lincoln was familiar; the poet met people whom knew Lincoln not only as a politician but also as a man. "The most popular Lincoln biography yet written… Lincoln publications increased after the appearance of this work" (Monaghan 2877, 3711). First published in 1926 in a signed limited edition (260 copies) and trade edition; this second edition of The Prairie Years originally issued in 1939, in the same year and in a binding corresponding to the first trade edition of The War Years. Illustrated with numerous photographic illustrations, maps, cartoons, letters and documents. Without original slipcase. See Howes S81.
Near-fine condition.