The Letters of the British Spy, with a Biographical Sketch of the Author
New York: J. & J. Harper, 1832. Tenth Edition, Revised and Corrected. Hardcover. Small 12mo. Pp. 260, preceded by 6 and followed by 8 pages of publisher's advertisements. Frontis. author portrait engraving with tissue guard. Quarter bound in black calf, marbled boards, gilt rules and titles stamped on the spine, edges trimmed, by Courier of Ann Arbor, Michigan (per tag.) Newspaper clipping quoting a Wirt letter tipped to front pastedown. Endpapers signed and/or stamped by previous owners M. Dnl. Coe, Mrs. S. M. Coe, Frantz H. Coe, M.D. Pencil and pen annotations on several pages. Corners and spine edges bumped and worn, light foxing throughout. Good. Item #5021
Young lawyer and bon vivant Wirt gained fame in 1803 when these studies of eloquence appeared in the Argus of Richmond, Virginia. He went on to prosecute Aaron Burr for treason, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, then appointed U. S. Attorney General. When this edition went to press he was on the Anti-Masonic party ticket for President.
Frantz Hunt Coe was born in 1856 to Matthew Daniel Coe in St. Charles Illinois. He earned his M.D. in Ann Arbor and with his wife Susan moved to Seattle where he joined a firm of physicians in 1890. He served on the Seattle School Board from 1901 until his death in 1904. Coe Elementary School was named for him in 1907.
Price: $50.00