Winter Auction 2015 closing February 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2015
Presented is a singular opportunity to own a book that was once owned by our nation's first President. This volume was part of a larger collection sold by the Tobias Lear family; Tobias was one of Washington's closest friends and his personal secretary. The book is The Rambler, Volume 2 by Samuel Johnson, 11th Edition. Dublin printed by D. Graisberry, 1785. The relic has a full leather binding, burgundy label and gilded lettering on the spine with normal exterior wear present and minor foxing on the interior. The bookplate of Benjamin Lincoln Lear, Tobias Lear's son and George Washington's godson, is affixed to the front pastedown. This well-documented relationship between Washington and Lear strengthens the case for the books well-preserved history. Included are copies of the inventory documents of Washington's affects including the Rambler volume as well as an LOA from University Archives and copies of the entire collection when it was first sold.