BOLDLY SIGNED BY ULYSSES S. GRANT IN THE FIRST WEEKS OF HIS FAMOUS WORLD TOUR, 1877 FACSIMILE COPY OF THE GLASGOW DIRECTORY, PRESENTED TO HIM AND BEAUTIFULLY BOUND FOR HIM BY THE PUBLISHER

(GRANT, Ulysses S.) TAIT, John. Directory, For the City of Glasgow… From The 15th May 1783, to the 15 May 1784. Glasgow: Printed for John Tait, 1783 [i.e. 1877]. Small octavo, contemporary full pebbled navy morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, brown morocco spine label, gilt-embossed arms, gilt-lettered "General U.S. Grant" to front board, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt.

1877 facsimile of the 1783 first Glasgow Directory, “Presented by the publisher to General U.S. Grant” early in his world tour, boldly signed by Grant on this copy’s special bound in presentation leaf beneath an inscription to the U.S. Consul to Glasgow, Samuel F. Cooper. Handsomely bound in full crushed morocco by Bickers & Son, with the front board gilt-stamped “General U.S. Grant” beneath the gilt-embossed Glasgow coat of arms.

Ulysses S. Grant, along with his wife Julia and son Jesse, sailed for Europe on May 17, 1877, ten weeks after the inauguration of President Hayes, and arrived in Liverpool on May 28 to begin his world tour. This copy of Glasgow, Scotland's Directory would have had special meaning for Grant, for his "family had originally come from Scotland to Massachusetts in May 1630" (Cunningham, Shiloh, 11). Grant's lineage has also been traced "to the Scottish clan named Grant, whose ancient motto was, 'Stand fast, Stand firm, Stand sure'" (Crafts, Life of Ulysses S. Grant). While in Scotland Grant often spoke of a "common destiny" between the two nations, and on Sept. 13th, the very day printed on this copy's presentation leaf, he made a speech in Glasgow where he thanked the city for "making me a free burgess of this great city of Glasgow."

This copy contains a bound-in leaf printed: "Presented by the Publisher to General U.S. Grant, Ex-President of the United States of America, On the occasion of his Visit to Glasgow. 13th September, 1877." Below, in an unidentified hand on the same leaf, is written: "Presented to S.F. Cooper by," followed by the signature of U.S. Grant with his bold flourish. Accompanying this special copy is a laid-in original invitation card from Brevet Brigadier General Baudeau to meet General Grant. During the Civil War Badeau served as Grant's military secretary and "was present when Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant… In 1870 Grant named him consul general to London… Badeau accompanied Grant during the general's travels through Europe in 1877-1879" and was a research assistant to Grant in the writing of his Memoirs (ANB). This copy's recipient, Samuel Freeman Cooper, also named in the laid-in invitation, fought in the Union army in the Civil War, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1876 Grant appointed him the U.S. Consul to Glasgow, Scotland. This volume contains a 'faithful facsimile of the first Glasgow Directory," covering the period from May 15, 1783 to May 14, 1784. There are reportedly only "three copies extant of the [original] first Glasgow Directory, issued in 1783. Also containing a laid-in detached leaf (from an unknown source) printed "Welcome to General U.S. Grant, Ex-President of the United States" and featuring a poem by Scottish poet William Tester, best known by his nom-de-plume, La Teste.

A fine signed copy.