Back Creek Books LLC, ABAA/ILAB

Condition: New. Well illustrated in color and black and white (illustrator). First printing. The only detailed account of Abraham Lincoln's passage through Annapolis on his way to and from the Hampton Roads Conference in early February, 1865. The extensive research for this project turned up interesting but forgotten aspects of local and national history. For example, the Maryland Legislature was debating ratification of the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery on the very morning that President Lincoln quietly walked past the State House, unbeknownst to the legislators inside. The amendment had passed Congress two days earlier on January 31st, and had been hand-delivered to the Maryland Legislature on February 1st. Research also rediscovered both the proper location of the train depot in 1865 as well as the route of the military railroad tracks hastily laid through town by General Benjamin Butler in April of 1861, over which passed the first troops to reach and reinforce Washington in those tense early days of the war. Well illustrated with historic photographs, documents, prints, and maps. Softcover. Quarto. [ii], 46 pages. Signed.

Condition: Fine. Scarce World War II booklet highlighting vulnerabilities of ports, piers and wharves in the U. S. , and suggesting many improved practice requirements. The primary threat was fire--either by accident or sabotage--with the danger being greatly multiplied by the wartime congestion of vessels in the water and cargo on the piers at major ports. Prepared for the U. S. Coast Guard. Lots of interesting information. Bound in printed blue paper covers, saddle-stapled binding. Tiny tear to edge of front cover at head of spine, faint browning toward edges of covers. Wrappers. Octavo. [ii], 29 pages.

Hardcover. Folio. 192 pages. Black and White Photographs, Scaled Drawings (illustrator). First American Edition. Fascinating analytical study of the rivalry in fast shipping that sprang from the discovery of gold in California. MacGregor, a talented draftsman, uses his own drawings when possible to describe and compare these ships. Examines the work of the builders, the performance of the ships, their records passages, and the exploits of the captains. Bound in dark blue textured paper over boards with spine titled in gilt. Shallow bumps to spine ends. Clean and sound throughout. . Jacket in Mylar protector. Near Fine in a Fine Dust Jacket.

Hardcover. Folio. 112 pages. Condition: Very Good. Black and White Photographs (illustrator). First Edition. History of the battleship U. S. S. California and her crew, with focus on operations in World War II. The California was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor but was salvaged and repaired by 1944. This history is well illustrated with historic photographs and contains many recollections by former crewmen. Also includes numerous veteran's biographies with "then and now" photographs. Fore corners slightly bumped.

Condition: Fine. Color Frontispiece (illustrator). First Edition. One of 250 copies. Comprehensive reference to the series, including chronological and numerical lists of the volumes published plus indexes by contributor and subject. Errata page bound in at rear. Grey cloth over boards with gilt title on a red spine label. Foxing to top edge of textblock. Full cloth. Duodecimo. x, 178 pages.

Wrappers. Octavo. 29 pages. Condition: Very good. Memorial to Hay, Brown University class of 1858, secretary to Lincoln, diplomat, journalist, biographer, and Secretary of State under McKinley and Roosevelt. Bound in tan paper covers stitched to textblock, Yapp edges, front cover titled in black. A few edge wrinkles.

Condition: Fine. Black & White Photographs, Illustrations (illustrator). First Edition. Descriptions of 679 croquet books, ephemera, pamphlets, and other items from this unique collection housed at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio. Good annotations. Appendices list books on croquet published between 1852-1966. A superb (if somewhat esoteric) sports history reference. Dark green cloth over boards with white stamped spine and upper board lettering. . Issued sans dust jacket. Full cloth. Octavo. xx, 214 pages.

Condition: Near Fine. Black and White Photographs, Maps (illustrator). First Edition. History of the evolution of the great port of London, from Roman times to the early 20th century. Well illustrated with photographs, a color plate of the Head Office of the Port of London Authority, photographs, and plans. This copy SIGNED by Owen, who was the General Manager of the Port of London Authority, under a typed inscription to Dr. William H. Wilmer, noted Baltimore ophthalmologist. Bound in dark blue leather over boards with spine and upper board stamped in gilt. A few minor extremity rubs. Hinges remain sturdy and sound. Full leather. Quarto. viii, 106 pages.

Black and White Photographs (illustrator). First Edition. Recollections of 13 men and women who devoted their lives to one of Maryland's oldest medical institutions--the Church Home & Hospital facilities located at Fayette Street and Broadway in Baltimore. It was in one of the buildings now owned by the corporation that Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849. Bound in dark green cloth over boards with spine and upper board stamped in silver foil. Shallow wrinkle to edge of cloth at head of spine, jacket has a closed 1.25" edge tear with associated creases at top of rear panel, a shallow chip at same location, a short edge tear at bottom edge of front panel, and a few other light extremity rubs. . Jacket in Mylar protector. Fine in a Very Good Dust Jacket Full cloth. Quarto. x, 115 pages.

Wrappers. Duodecimo. 16 pages. Cartoon on rear cover (illustrator). Williams Jennings Bryan, the Democratic nominee for President in 1900, delivers a speech against the reign of monopolies he saw as having been abetted by McKinley and the Republicans. Bryan ultimately would lose to the incumbent, McKinley, who would be assassinated shortly thereafter. There is a satirical cartoon of the G.O.P. elephant on the rear cover, showing the "true inwardness of the Republican elephant." Scarce. Fine. Printed wrappers, saddle-stapled binding.

First Edition. Haggerty lays out his "Guarantee Plan" for the Democrats to deal justly with the trusts and defeat Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. Scarce. OCLC locates just 9 copies. Near Fine. Bound in rust-colored cloth over boards with spine and upper board lettered in black. All edges of textblock rough cut. Minor edge wear to boards. Neatly repaired tear to one leaf. Original cloth. Duodecimo. [iv], 81 pages.

Condition: Good. First Edition. Critical report on the U. S. Military establishment just after World War I in which it is alleged that a "war trust" simultaneously profited from war preparations while inviting war and keeping American military power weak. Isham was himself an inventor in the area of high explosives. This booklet is bound in printed paper covers over a side-stapled binding. Browning and dampstaining to front cover and portions of textblock, some red crayon markings to a few pages. Covers have rubs and light soil. Quite scarce. Wrappers. Octavo. [iv], 143 pages.

Uncommon Cincinnati imprint of this tract from Stowe, whose "Uncle Tom's Cabin" had appeared two years before. Hymn "Nearer My God To Thee" printed on rear cover. Bound in printed self wraps with sewn binding. Light foxing, contemporary prior ownership inscriptions on front cover and rear cover. Two minor archival tissue repairs to head and heel of spine. Very good overall. Wrappers. Thirty-twomo. 15 pages.

Limited edition. Dana Lamb was one of the 20th century's best writers on fishing. This collection of 33 essays on trout and salmon adventures was limited to 1500 copies. In original slipcase. Ref. HAND L25; BRUNS L11. Fine in a near fine slipcase with a few minor edge rubs and light stains. Cloth over boards. Octavo. [vi], 111, [1] pages.

Condition: Fine in a Fine Dust Jacket. Black and White Photographs, Illus. (illustrator). First Edition. Study of the admiralty system as it was transmitted from England to America, with an emphasis on Maryland. Based on extensive manuscript research on both sides of the Atlantic. Includes appendices on Nicholas Greenberry, Daniel Dulany, Sr. , Governor Horatio Sharpe's "commission" as Vice Admiral, and much more. Excellent bibliographical essay included as well. Bound in dark blue cloth over boards with gilt-stamped spine titles. Jacket in Mylar protector. Full cloth. Octavo. xxxvi, 421 pages.

Steel and wood engraved black & white plates and text illustrations (illustrator). First edition. Illustrated treatise on fox-hunting, by the Master of Hounds at the Hertfordshire Hunt Club. Good. Bound in green cloth over boards with embossed ornamental designs, gilt-stamped spine title. The book has been expertly restored, retaining the original binding cloth as much as possible. Interior pages show some foxing to pre- and postliminary leaves, occasional paper repairs, and a short edge tear to an occasional leaf. Expertly rebacked original cloth over boards. Octavo. xii, 327 pages.

Wrappers. Octavo. 21 pages. Condition: Good. The Reform Convention of Maryland, assembled to reform the state constitution, honored Mr. Webster for his role in the Compromise of 1850. This pamphlet contains Webster's address that evening as well as the toasts and speeches by some of Maryland's most prominent men of the day. The dinner was held at Walton's City Hotel, and Mr. And Mrs. Webster took lodgings at Mrs. Green's, opposite the State House. Printed front cover, sewn binding. Light scattered foxing inside, some silverfishing to fore edge of rear cover and last leaf, other mild cover wear.

Condition: Fine. First Edition. History and reminiscences of sailing, yacht clubs, and yacht racing around Long Island Sound. Anecdotes of the Larchmont, Port Washington, Knickerbocker, American, Riverside, and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht clubs. MORRIS & HOWLAND p. 33. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by Cooper on front free endpaper. Bound in dark blue cloth over boards with gilt-stamped spine and upper board titles. Tiny extremity rubs. . No dust jacket. Full cloth. Octavo. xii, 315 pages.

Illustrated in black and white, and color (illustrator). Limited Edition. One of 500 copies in English. Translation by Dermot T. Cooke. Introduction by Enzo Carli. Primarily a catalogue of Marini's work, with notes and captions. Contains an index to the etchings. Near fine in a good dust jacket. Bound in red textured paper over boards with gilt stamped spine and upper board lettering. Minor bump to lower fore corner of lower board. Jacket has overall yellowing, a .5" x .125" hole near top edge of front panel, a 1" closed tear at lower edge of front panel near joint fold, rubs and wrinkles at extremities, and some surface abrasions. Still a presentable jacket, and one which has preserved the book itself in very nice condition. Hardcover. Folio. xiv, 133 pages.

Hand-colored lithograph headpiece (illustrator). Patriotic Union Civil War song sheet with three verses, beginning: "Draw comrades draw the bright sabre again, Let the crack of rifle for ever be heard." The hand-colored headpiece is a view of the City of Richmond from across the James River, with the Confederate Capitol prominently in the center (Magnus 61, per Wolf). Charles Magnus was a German immigrant printing entrepreneur who produced city views as well as views of camps and hospitals during the Civil War. He is well known for his postal covers and song sheets as well. Ref. WOLF 656. Near fine condition with a small chip to top right corner. Single leaf approximately 5" x 8".

Condition: Fine condition. Hand-colored lithograph headpiece (illustrator). A sentimental Union Civil War song sheet with three verses and a chorus. . The hand-colored headpiece is a view of the City of Richmond from across the James River, with the Confederate Capitol prominently in the center (Magnus 61, per Wolf). Charles Magnus was a German immigrant printing entrepreneur who produced city views as well as views of camps and hospitals during the Civil War. He is well known for his postal covers and song sheets as well. Ref. WOLF 1463a. Single leaf approximately 5" x 8".

Self-wraps. Octavo. [54] pages. Advance Reading Copy. An advance printing of the title story in the collection "To Skin a Cat," published in October of 1986. This is copy #28 of 250, signed by McGuane on front cover. Letter from publisher dated June 19, 1986 is laid in, explaining the present copy to be a "special edition of this title story, signed by the author and limited to 250 copies." Near fine, saddle-stapled binding.

Limited Edition, one of 200 copies. Crumley was a gritty craftsman who influenced other writers such as Connelly, Pelecanos, and Lehane. Crumley's writing style has been said to blend the hardboiled tradition of Raymond Chandler with the gonzo spirit of Hunter S. Thompson. This fragment--at some of which became "Mexican Tree Duck"--offers a glimpse into Crumley's writing process and provides collectors a unique piece of his literary journey. This edition was limited to 200 copies. Signed by Crumley on half title. Issued without a dust jacket but how fitted with a custom-cut Mylar jacket. Bound in decorated yellow paper oved boards with brown cloth spine titled in gilt. Fine condition. Hardcover. Small octavo. 25 pages.

Contains addresses by then Secretary of the Interior Dr. Hubert Work, Commissioner of Reclamation Dr. Elwood Mead, Director of National Parks Stephen T. Mather, Bishop C. W. Nibley, and President Anthony W. Ivins of the Mormon Church. The three U.S. Government officials acknowledge the accomplishments and example of the Mormon Church in settling the West, and asks its support as the Bureau of Reclamation plans to open vast new areas to settlement and cultivation. Uncommon, with just 6 institutional holdings shown in OCLC. Fine, with one small stain on back cover. Stapled wrappers. Duodecimo. 24 pages.

` (illustrator). Limited edition. A fine collection of Lamb's essays on fly-fishing for trout and salmon and other outdoor sporting adventures. Edition limited to 1500, this copy is SIGNED by Lamb but not numbered. Lacks the slipcase. Ref. HAND L27; BRUNS L12. Fine in a near fine glassine jacket. Cloth over boards. Octavo. [viii], 92, [1] pages.

Brilliant satirical novel about Alfred Fatigay, a London schoolmaster, who returns from the Congo with a pet chimpanzee named Emily which he plans to give to his fiancée, Amy. Unbeknownst to Alfred, Emily has become literate and fallen in love with him and when she meets Amy--a modern woman of the 1920s--Emily plots to save Alfred from Amy's cold grip. Collier's novel is celebrated for its wit, humor, clever style, and its unique take on societal norms and relationships. Introduction by Osbert Sitwell. This copy bears the c.1960s bookplate of American illustrator, Hilary Knight. Knight illustrated over fifty books and authored nine. He is perhaps best known for his work on the "Eloise" books by Kay Thompson. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. A couple of shallow extremity bumps. A touch of general soiling to dust jacket. Interior clean and sound. Hardcover. Duodecimo. 185 pages.

Hardcover. Octavo. 64 pages. First Edition. The author spent time "on the road" himself to learn what happened to young people who were tramps and hobos. This down-to-earth story is the fruit of these efforts at gathering information on their thinking and way of life. Illustrated by Gregory Orloff. Fine. Bound in illustrated cloth over boards.

Wrappers. Octavo. 48 pages. Map (illustrator). Mid-19th century reprint of the narrative of this battle between British colonists and the Abenaki at present-day Fryeburg, Maine. Includes a map of the locality drawn by George B. Barrows, popular ballads related to the incident, etc. Near Fine. Original printed covers over sewn binding. Some faint cover creases and light foxing, else fine.

Disbound. Quarto. 14 pages. A listing of 24 post-roads across various states that were deemed unproductive as of February 20th, 1817. The criteria were that the road had been established for more than two years and that it had not, within the preceding year, produced postal revenue of at least a third of the cost of transporting the mail upon it. Congress was given the power to establish specific post roads in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution. Here the Postmaster General reports that some of the roads so established are a waste of taxpayer money. Return J. Meigs, Jr. was appointed Postmaster General in 1814 by President James Madison--a post he would hold until 1823. The present report was submitted to then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Henry Clay. Near fine. Removed from a bound volume with some wrinkles, evidence of stitching, and old glue along spine.

Photographic plates, endpaper maps (illustrator). First edition. This scarce little book is a personal narrative of the least known U. S. Naval operations--those against the Philippine Insurrectos in 1899 and 1900. The author commanded the U.S.S. Panay in these operations. The work of thses little gunboats in the infinity of channels and waterways of the Philippines was largely overshadowed by larger naval victories at Manila Bay and Santiago in the Spanish American War, but many future naval leaders got their first practical lessons in command in these boats. Very good in a near fine dust jacket. Prior owner name label at top fore corner of front pastedown, with several blind embossed circular seals throughout the text. Clean and sound. Hardcover. Duodecimo. [xii], 153 pages.