Benson J. Lossing (1813–1891)

First edition. Hardcover. 2vol. Large 8vo. [3], iv-xxxi, [4], 54-698, [2]; [5], x-xxvii, [4], 36-536 pp. Purple pebbled cloth with black decorations and gold lettering on the front board and spine, text blocks stained red. The first volume illustrated with a steel lithograph frontispiece of Christopher Columbus, a double frontispiece photograph of the delegates sent to the Pan-American Congress of 1889-1890, 73 full-page illustrations, and numerous in-text illustrations. Volume two is illustrated by a frontispiece of the first cabinet (Washington and his cabinet) and a double frontispiece of Benjamin Harrison and his cabinet. Additionally, volume two has 33 full-page illustrations and numerous in-text illustrations. Volume one discusses numerous natural landmarks like Pike's Peak, Lake Minnetonka, MN, Cape May, Lancaster County, PA, and also gives a brief history of Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and other North and South American places. Quebec and Montreal are portrayed in the illustrations of this volume. The end of volume one also contains the Declaration of Independence and a facsimile of the signatures at the bottom of the document. Volume two discusses the big cities of the United States including Minneapolis, Portland, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and other important cities like Dayton, St. Paul, New Haven, etc. The illustrations show landmarks of each city, for example, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Palmer House of Chicago, and more. The second part of volume two gives a history of each U.S. state. A general history set focused on the United States, and to a lesser degree, North America in general. The set reveals the historical biases of the day, and is a great example of the "Manifest Destiny" mentality. Both volumes beautifully illustrated, and in exceptional condition.… (mer)

First edition. Hardcover. 2vol. Large 8vo. [3], iv-xxxi, [4], 54-698, [2]; [5], x-xxvii, [4], 36-536 pp. Purple pebbled cloth with black decorations and gold lettering on the front board and spine, text blocks stained red. The first volume illustrated with a steel lithograph frontispiece of Christopher Columbus, a double frontispiece photograph of the delegates sent to the Pan-American Congress of 1889-1890, 73 full-page illustrations, and numerous in-text illustrations. Volume two is illustrated by a frontispiece of the first cabinet (Washington and his cabinet) and a double frontispiece of Benjamin Harrison and his cabinet. Additionally, volume two has 33 full-page illustrations and numerous in-text illustrations. Volume one discusses numerous natural landmarks like Pike's Peak, Lake Minnetonka, MN, Cape May, Lancaster County, PA, and also gives a brief history of Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and other North and South American places. Quebec and Montreal are portrayed in the illustrations of this volume. The end of volume one also contains the Declaration of Independence and a facsimile of the signatures at the bottom of the document. Volume two discusses the big cities of the United States including Minneapolis, Portland, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and other important cities like Dayton, St. Paul, New Haven, etc. The illustrations show landmarks of each city, for example, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Palmer House of Chicago, and more. The second part of volume two gives a history of each U.S. state. A general history set focused on the United States, and to a lesser degree, North America in general. The set reveals the historical biases of the day, and is a great example of the "Manifest Destiny" mentality. Both volumes beautifully illustrated, and in exceptional condition.… (mer)

I love learning about history, it's kind of my thing. And I've recently started to grow more of an interest in the american revolutionary war era. I did enjoy this book, even if I did find it overly dramatic at points, I did learn a lot about the signers that I had never heard of and probably wouldn't look up myself. The second half I feel like dragged on longer than it should have though. I understand what the author was going for with explaining everything, considering this reads like a college textbook, but this was just...too much. I would recommend this book if you want to learn more about these men though and what lead up to them signing the declaration and what happened after. It is an interesting read, just realize it is a very slow read. 3.5 out of 5 stars.… (mer)