This two- volume set is a first edition, published in 1885.

Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) was the 18th President of the United States from 1869-1877. As Commanding General of the United States Army, Grant worked closely with President Abraham Lincoln to lead the Union Army to victory over the Confederacy in the American Civil War.

Grant is arguably one of the most important generals in U.S. History, at times referred to as "the man who saved the Union" for both his military leadership and his subsequent service as the 18th President of the United States.

Left penniless by investing in a firm that turned out to be a Ponzi scheme, and dying of throat cancer, Grant began to write his memoirs. Working furiously, he finished the 2 volumes 5 days before he died in 1885. The books were an immediate success, providing his family with $450,000 in royalties.

Some believe that Mark Twain assisted Grant in the final days of writing these memoirs shortly before his death, others say they are "pure Grant" and Twain only assisted in the publication. Either way, these memoirs are a critical part of understanding Ulysses S. Grant from the time of his earliest military service during the Mexican War, his subsequent military service including his time on the West Coast and in California, through the end of the Civil War.

The books have many illustrations and document facsimiles, including a fold out of Lee's surrender terms in Vol. 2. Vol. 1 contains a facsimile dedication in Grant's hand.

The books have dark green cloth covers with gold gilt lettering on the front, back and spine. Both front and back covers have gold embossed medallions. Medallions on front have a bust of Grant in the center. Back covers have a facsimile in gilt of the gold medal awarded to Grant in 1863 (to celebrate his victories in the Vicksburg campaign, which gave the Union Army control over the entire Mississippi and split the Confederacy in two).

The cloth covers are slightly worn on the edges and corners.  Some scuffs and surface dirt is present but overall they are both in very good condition. Pages have yellowed with age but none are loose. Binding is tight. Books measure 9 ¼” x 6” x 2”.  Text in Vol. 1 is 584 pages, in Vol. 2, 647 pages.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!