The Life of George Washington with Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honourable to Himself, and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen

This is an antique, illustrated Washington biography - "The Life of GEORGE WASHINGTON with Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honourable to Himself, and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen" by M.L. Weems. 1869; J.B. Lippincott & Co.; Philadelphia. This copy is "embellished with six engravings." The book is a highly idealized 1800's biography of America's first president. Rather than operating as a strictly accurate historical record, the book is designed as a moral guidebook for young Americans. Weems' central objective was to look past Washington's public military and political achievements to highlight his private virtues—such as honesty, piety, industry, and patriotism—presenting them as a blueprint for the character of the young republic. The book is historically significant because it is the direct origin of several of the most famous myths and folk tales in American history. Because Weems heavily embellished Washington’s life to ensure his anecdotes were "exemplary" to youth, the book functions more as an epic national mythology than traditional biography. Condition: Light soiling and staining on the covers. Clean spine with bright gilt lettering and decorations. Cloth tears at the cover corners, and at the top-right corner of the spine. The top and bottom edges of the spine are worn down. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. Both covers are firmly attached. Occasional mild foxing and smudges to the pages here and there. A half-oval stain that appears at the outer edge of pages 82 to about page 117. Light stain at the upper-inner corners of the frontispiece, and of the front and rear end papers and pastedowns. Light smudging and foxing to the end papers and pastedowns. Name written in old pencil handwriting on the front end paper. Overall the book is in Good- condition.…