Description
Author: Thomas H. Russell, LL.D.
Publisher: L. H. Walter
Year: 1919 (First Edition)
Edition: Memorial Edition
Format: Hardcover / Blue cloth with black and gold-gilt embossed cover design
Condition: Excellent / Near Fine
A beautifully preserved commemorative artifact honoring one of America’s most legendary leaders, published in the immediate wake of his passing.
Following the death of Theodore Roosevelt on January 6, 1919, a nation mourned the loss of its "Typical American". This magnificent 1919 Memorial Edition, compiled by historian Thomas H. Russell, serves as an immediate, heartfelt chronicle of Roosevelt’s multi-faceted legacy as a patriot, orator, soldier, and statesman. The volume includes an insightful introduction by Roosevelt's Harvard contemporary Merritt Starr, a powerful special tribute from Major-General Leonard Wood, and a wealth of personal reflections from prominent public figures of the era. Generously illustrated with historic photographic portraits and scenes from his dynamic life, the book captures the raw, contemporary admiration for the 26th president.
This particular copy stands out for its spectacular presentation, featuring a deep blue cloth binding ornately stamped with black ink borders and bright gold-gilt text. The cover boasts an elaborate embossed motif showcasing a cavalry sword cross-hatched with an olive branch—a poignant symbol of Roosevelt's dual legacy as a fierce Rough Rider and a Nobel Peace Prize-winning diplomat. It is an exceptional addition for collectors of presidential americana, political history, or early 20th-century decorative trade bindings.
Condition Notes
- Overall Profile: Near Fine (NF) condition. An incredibly sharp, crisp example of a volume that is typically found heavily weathered, faded, or structurally compromised.
- Cover & Binding: The striking blue cloth boards are clean, vibrant, and remarkably well-preserved. The gold-gilt lettering on both the front board and spine remains exceptionally bright and lustrous, lacking the standard dulling or severe surface rubbing seen on most surviving 1919 editions. Minor, age-appropriate softening to the extreme spine tips and corner points.
- Spine: Perfectly flat, rigid, and completely square. The text block is firmly secured, and the internal hinges are fully intact and tight, showing no signs of splitting or leaning.
- Interior: Outstandingly clean. The pages are crisp and smooth, free from kitchen dampness, reading stains, foxing, or thumb creasing. There are no gift inscriptions, bookstore stamps, or pencil markings on the flyleaves or text pages.
- Boutique Preservation: Prepared with the meticulous care signature to our shop, this piece will ship housed inside an archival-grade protective covering to permanently preserve its premium condition on your bookshelves.