The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government.

DAVIS, Jefferson.

$1,800.00

Item Number: 89786

New York: Appleton and Company, 1881.

Salesman’s dummy of Jefferson Davis’ memoirs. Octavo, original cloth. Includes an example of the both examples of which were used in the sale of this volume. The cloth spine is affixed to the front pastedown and the leather on the rear pastedown. Contents include publisher’s prospectus, 16 tissue-covered steel engraved plates; 32 pages from the text, and many pages at the end for the salesman to record his sales. In near fine condition.

Jefferson Davis wrote most of the Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government at Beauvoir, the Biloxi, Mississippi plantation where he was living as a guest of the novelist and wealthy widow, Sarah Ellis Dorsey. Ill with cancer, in 1878 she made over her will and left the plantation to him before her death in 1879. She had already assisted him in his writing, notably with organization, editing and encouragement. Davis was also assisted by his wife, Varina, and his secretary Major W.T. Walthall. He corresponded voluminously with surviving Confederate statesmen and generals, including Judah Benjamin and Jubal Early, for fact checking and details on key issues.