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46 GANDHI, Mohandas K., “Mahatma”. Original signature. 1931 gandhi’s signature framed for display A fine signature, attractively presented, of “M K Gandhi”, dated “18:5:31”, placing it two months after the signing of the Gandhi– Irwin pact, which concluded the salt march disobedience protests and set the stage for the second round-table conference. Gandhi is recorded as being in Nainital on 18 May 1931, following a discussion with the viceroy and home secretary in Simla the previous day ( Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer , 18 May 1931). Original signature in ink on cream card (109 × 70 mm), with original 1942 press photograph of Gandhi, taken around the time of his arrest in the Quit India movement; presented together in black and gilt frame with conservation acrylic glazing (307 × 370 mm). Slight toning to corners, else fine. £4,500 [143513] 47 GRANT, Ulysses S. Personal Memoirs. New York: Charles L. Webster & Company, 1885–86 in the publisher’s sheep First edition of the memoirs of the great Civil War general and 18th president of the United States. The first edition was issued in
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five different bindings at varying costs. The sheepskin binding is especially attractive and has always been particularly sought after but is very prone to wear and generally found dilapidated. This copy is an especially nice example. Written by Grant as he was dying of cancer, the work served as a deathbed justification for the war against the Confederacy and for Grant’s own conduct. The autobiography was published by Mark Twain, who marketed the book by using military veterans in uniform to raise subscriptions. It sold over 300,000 sets and remains in print. 2 volumes, octavo. Original sheep, red and dark blue twin morocco labels, marbled endpapers and edges. Engraved portrait frontispieces, one etched plate and one folding facsimile to each, 47 integral full-page plans in all, folding map at the rear of vol. II. Neat contemporary ownership signature and stamp of Willis Wendell Washburn (1846–1942) of China, Maine to initial binder’s blanks and frontispiece rectos. Light rubbing and stripping to sheep in places, but much less than usual, minor spotting to covers, slight foxing and offsetting to plates, contents unmarked, joints and hinges intact. A fine copy. £2,500 [151241] 48 HARRINGTON, James. The Common-Wealth of Oceana. London: Printed by J. Streater, for Livewell Chapman, 1656 an influence on state-builders and the founding fathers First edition of Harrington’s masterpiece, aside from More’s Utopia “perhaps the most famous attempt at envisioning a model commonwealth. It has been consulted at various times by those who have planned new states and commonwealths” (Pforzheimer), including most notably the American Founding Fathers. Oceana describes “a Utopian State with a written constitution, providing for a bicameral legislature, rotation in office, the indirect election of a president, secret ballot, and other ideas much in advance of their time, some of which influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution” (Walker, p. 555). “ Oceana is one
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