NF Looking For Book

[JLGACC]

I know this is an extreme long-shot/hail mary, but I'm searching for an old Civil War book that my family had when I was younger. The book had a lot of sketches, like the ones attached, in it. I'm pretty sure the title was something generic like "The American Civil War".

This was the first book on the Civil War I ever read and got me absolutely hooked on the subject.

Any ideas on the author/year?

Again, I know it's a long shot but wanted to try.

Thanks!

John

 

[Library Lady]

...another book with a lot of woodcuts is Campfire and Battlefield: An Illustrated History of the Great Civil War by Rossiter Johnson, originally published (I believe) in quarto by Knight & Brown, New York, and as a folio by Desmond Publishing Co., Boston, both in 1894. I know it was reprinted in 1958 by The Blue and the Gray Press, in 1967 by The Civil War Press, in 1978 by The Fairfax Press, and probably several other editions.
But my first thought was that they came from Fletcher Pratt's The Civil War in Pictures (1955).

Out of what has been suggested so far and based on John's information, I think Pratt's The Civil War in Pictures is a good possibility. I placed a hold on it yesterday so will be awaiting its arrival. My library's consortium has 3 different editions of Campfire and Battlefield: An Illustrated History of the Great Civil War starting with The Civil War Press, then The Falcon Press and finally Trident Press International in 1999. Two of these are listed as "oversize." If Pratt doesn't work out, then this is probably where I would check next.

 

[JLGACC]

I think I'm going to purchase a version of Pratt's book regardless, seems like something I'd like to have in my collection regardless.

Absolutely appreciate all the help.

 

[James N.]

I think I'm going to purchase a version of Pratt's book regardless, seems like something I'd like to have in my collection regardless.

Absolutely appreciate all the help.

Since you posted the later pictures you had copies of I can attest that they are NOT from Pratt's book. However, as you say, you will probably like it anyway. A word of caution, however: the most readily available copies are those like mine, published by the Book-Of-The-Month Club in cheapie downsized editions that resulted in muddied detail on the already-not-particularly detailed B&W engravings. Much better if you can find one of the original larger-sized and printed on better paper original publisher's editions of the book.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Perhaps it was this one? The 2nd pic is from inside the cover, showing publishing details. On another page, it says it was published in 1961. It is chock-full of Harpers Weekly lithographs, as well as drawings from other sources. I absolutely love this book. I picked up three original Harpers Weekly prints at the recent Franklin show, and it turns out at least one of them was featured in the book below (I need to flip through the book and see if the other two are in there as well; EDIT: it turns out, by total fluke, that two of the prints are in the book)). Can't wait to frame the prints. Any suggestions on suitable frames for these prints?

 

[James N.]

Perhaps it was this one? The 2nd pic is from inside the cover, showing publishing details. On another page, it says it was published in 1961. It is chock-full of Harpers Weekly lithographs, as well as drawings from other sources. I absolutely love this book. I picked up three original Harpers Weekly prints at the recent Franklin show, and it turns out at least one of them was featured in the book below (I need to flip through the book and see if the other two are in there as well; EDIT: it turns out, by total fluke, that two of the prints are in the book)). Can't wait to frame the prints. Any suggestions on suitable frames for these prints?
View attachment 429011View attachment 429010

Being reminded of this book, from the caption style in it I'm pretty sure this is the one. It's a large-format coffee-table-style volume.

 

[JLGACC]

Perhaps it was this one? The 2nd pic is from inside the cover, showing publishing details. On another page, it says it was published in 1961. It is chock-full of Harpers Weekly lithographs, as well as drawings from other sources. I absolutely love this book. I picked up three original Harpers Weekly prints at the recent Franklin show, and it turns out at least one of them was featured in the book below (I need to flip through the book and see if the other two are in there as well; EDIT: it turns out, by total fluke, that two of the prints are in the book)). Can't wait to frame the prints. Any suggestions on suitable frames for these prints?
View attachment 429011View attachment 429010

Interesting. That doesn't look like the cover, but could get me 95% of the way there with the prints. I ordered the Pratt book this weekend, so we'll see how that comes out first. If that's not it, I'll just have to add two quality books to my library.

 

[James N.]

Interesting. That doesn't look like the cover, but could get me 95% of the way there with the prints. I ordered the Pratt book this weekend, so we'll see how that comes out first. If that's not it, I'll just have to add two quality books to my library.

The one he posted is a deluxe leather-bound edition; the normal edition had a white cover with a colorful dust jacket showing a typically sentimental Currier & Ives print depicting a Union soldier saying goodbye to his family at the cottage gate and going off to war.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Let me know if there is anything from the book that you might want posted. For example, the book includes various coloured recruiting posters from the era, Currier & Ives prints, a 2-page print of typical Union and Confederate uniforms, etc. This book captures the "mood" of the war.

 

[Library Lady]

The one he posted is a deluxe leather-bound edition; the normal edition had a white cover with a colorful dust jacket showing a typically sentimental Currier & Ives print depicting a Union soldier saying goodbye to his family at the cottage gate and going off to war.

Does this look like your book, John? The picture is from a bookseller on AbeBooks. Altogether there are 30 copies with varying prices and varying conditions on AbeBooks.

The Civil War Sketch Book is definitely not your book, but if you are interested in Civil War art beyond finding your book, it is a lovely, large volume full of the sketches the combat artists made at the scene so they could turn them into more detailed lithographs later. The Pratt book cleared delivery about 1/2 hour after I left work today, so I'll pick it up tomorrow night, although apparently it's not your book, either, as it was said above to have only some of your provided pictures. The Earl Schenck Miers book, which may be your book, is available through my library's consortium, so I'll put it on hold and have it sent to me. Looking at the "rejects" is a nice experience. I'm so glad you asked about your book!

 

[JLGACC]

Does this look like your book, John? The picture is from a bookseller on AbeBooks. Altogether there are 30 copies with varying prices and varying conditions on AbeBooks.

View attachment 429042

The Civil War Sketch Book is definitely not your book, but if you are interested in Civil War art beyond finding your book, it is a lovely, large volume full of the sketches the combat artists made at the scene so they could turn them into more detailed lithographs later. The Pratt book cleared delivery about 1/2 hour after I left work today, so I'll pick it up tomorrow night, although apparently it's not your book, either, as it was said above to have only some of your provided pictures. The Earl Schenck Miers book, which may be your book, is available through my library's consortium, so I'll put it on hold and have it sent to me. Looking at the "rejects" is a nice experience. I'm so glad you asked about your book!

that one doesn't look like it either. I ordered the Pratt book this weekend and it should be here next week. Even if it's not the book, I'm sure it will have some of the sketches that I remember memorizing as a kid.

I looked at all the covers on the Miers book and it doesn't seem to "it" either, although I may have to purchase a copy of that one just to make sure, hah!

 

[JLGACC]

I checked a little further in the catalogue (which I should have done to begin with) and found that this book (Civil War Sketch Book) is listed as being from 2012 as a first edition so probably too "young" to be John's book. I'll still check it out because paging through Civil War books looking at pictures is not exactly a fate worse than death.

Bad News/Good News

Bad News first... The book came in today, and it's not the book from my childhood.
Good News now. It still has many of the illustrations that I haven't seen in years. Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase and glad it's now part of my collection. Spent the whole evening looking through it.

The search continues.

 

[Library Lady]

I looked at all the covers on the Miers book and it doesn't seem to "it" either, although I may have to purchase a copy of that one just to make sure, hah!

That might be a good idea, John. All 4 of the prints you posted are in the Earl Schenck Miers book The American Civil War. It even has the same caption for the print with the Illinois soldiers in Missouri.

 

[lupaglupa]

@JLGACC I feel your pain! I spent several years hunting for a book I remembered from childhood. Of course, my memories were not as exact as I had supposed they were. But I did find the book. I'm sure you will too.

I do think @Library Lady is on to something in supposing this could have been one of the many books put out in the 60s for the hundredth anniversary

 

[RedRover]

The other two copies that I made from the book as a kid.



View attachment 428439

View attachment 428440

I did a Google books text search of the caption shown on this page: ""Illinois troops supported the Missouri unionists under colonel mulligan in eight days of savage battle at Lexington. But price's frontiersmen (foreground), for all their lack of discipline..." It shows this to be page 67 of the Earl Schenk Miers book previously mentioned:

The American Civil War
A Popular Illustrated History of the Years 1861-1865 as Seen by the Artist-correspondents who Were There
By Earl Schenck Miers · 1961

 

[JLGACC]

I did a Google books text search of the caption shown on this page: ""Illinois troops supported the Missouri unionists under colonel mulligan in eight days of savage battle at Lexington. But price's frontiersmen (foreground), for all their lack of discipline..." It shows this to be page 67 of the Earl Schenk Miers book previously mentioned:

The American Civil War
A Popular Illustrated History of the Years 1861-1865 as Seen by the Artist-correspondents who Were There
By Earl Schenck Miers · 1961

Just ordered from Amazon.

Found a picture of this book without the dusk jacket and the cover looks VERY close.

Stay tuned...

 

[TerryB]

I know this is an extreme long-shot/hail mary, but I'm searching for an old Civil War book that my family had when I was younger. The book had a lot of sketches, like the ones attached, in it. I'm pretty sure the title was something generic like "The American Civil War".

This was the first book on the Civil War I ever read and got me absolutely hooked on the subject.

Any ideas on the author/year?

Again, I know it's a long shot but wanted to try.

Thanks!

John

View attachment 428318

View attachment 428319

Sorry, see below for my theory.

 

[TerryB]

I used to have the same book. I think the title was something like The Civil War in Pictures. https://www.nobleknight.com/P/21474...s&utm_term=4584207587362067&utm_content=Games

 

[TerryB]

View attachment 428372
Here's a photo I copied from Amazon of the Fletcher Pratt book that looks exactly like the copy I have or had. (I don't know whether or not I still have it because after virtually memorizing all the pictures it's of little use to me any more.)

You beat me to it!

 

[TerryB]

View attachment 428438
I've still have my original Bruce Catton "Picture History of THE CIVIL WAR" that has a lot of those same maps in it. My 9 y/o son now looks at them the same way I did.

Love it! We had this in my school library.