The Naval War of 1812. Or, the History of the United States Navy During the Last War with Great Britain
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1882. First Edition. Black and white drawings, diagrams, battle plans. Cloth over boards. Octavo. [i-ii], iii-vii, [viii], ix-xi, [xii], xiii-xviii, [1], 2-498 pages, [2] publisher ads.
Scarce first printing of Theodore Roosevelt's remarkable first book. He began research on this while a student at Harvard, noting that the histories then available on the topic were rather biased to one side or the other. He set out to write an authoritative history that could be recognized as such by both Americans and Englishmen. He succeeded magnificently, garnering favorable reviews in England and America, with this work becoming the standard text on the subject. Roosevelt's War of 1812 naval history led to his being appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President McKinley despite having no formal naval background beyond his research for this book. An astounding achievement.
Ref. COLE A3a; WHEELOCK p. 10; HOWES R431.
Bound in green diagonally patterned cloth over boards with gilt-stamped spine titles, gilt ship device on upper board, and brown coated endpapers. A few very minor spots of foxing to first and last several leaves. Hinges sound. Minor extremity rubs and shallow bumps to binding. A solid copy. In custom clear Mylar jacket. Fine overall.
Item #2177
Price: $9,500