The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government.

DAVIS, Jefferson.

$42,000.00

Item Number: 129632

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1881.

First edition of Jefferson Davis’ important history of the Confederacy, inscribed by him to his doctor. With 18 maps (14 folding) and 19 plates, including stipple-engraved portraits of Davis, members of the presidential staff, General Lee, and others. Thick octavo, original three-quarter brown morocco, original brown cloth gilt, patterned endpapers, with steel-engraved plates, including frontispiece portraits, wood-engraved plates, maps. Association copy, inscribed by him in volume one, “Maurice Davis M.D. with the respects of the Author.” The recipient was his friend and physician, when the Davis’ were in London. Dr. Maurice Marcus Davis (1821-1898) acted as physician to the Davis’s whilst they were in the United Kindgdom. Mrs. Varina Davis describes him as “our skillful and wise Physician”, and later as “Dr. Maurice Davis, of London, our kind and skillful friend of years ago.” Dr. Davis and his wife Anita were both from wealthy Jewish dynastic families, and were prominent and quite active in the Jewish community in Great Britain. In near fine condition. An exceptional association copy.

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.