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1889 B.F. Perry Letters INSCRIBED Judge James Aldrich SC Manuscript RARE
RARE 1889 PRIVATE EDITION / SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION COPY
LETTERS OF MY FATHER TO MY MOTHER
Beginning with Those Written During Their Engagement, with Extracts from His Journal
Benjamin Franklin Perry (1805–1886)
Former Governor of South Carolina
Arranged and published by his son, Hext McCall Perry, M.D.
Printed Privately by Allen, Lane & Scott's Printing Company, Philadelphia, 1889.
Original 1889 edition — not a modern reprint.
Approximately 150 pages.
Size: approximately 11" × 8".
Illustrated with portraits of Benjamin F. Perry, Elizabeth F. Perry and Hext McCall Perry, as well as views of the Perry family residence, Sans Souci, in Greenville, South Carolina.
The preface specifically states that the work was published “for private circulation only.”
The volume contains Benjamin Franklin Perry's personal letters to his wife, Elizabeth Frances McCall Perry, beginning with correspondence written during their engagement, together with extracts from his journal and other material.
The book was prepared by their son, Hext McCall Perry, who described the letters as a record of his father's private and domestic character and a legacy for his descendants.
IMPORTANT ASSOCIATION COPY / PROVENANCE
This particular copy has a remarkable documented South Carolina association.
The front endpaper bears a handwritten presentation inscription:
“Judge James Aldrich.From his friend Mrs. B. F. Perry.Sans Souci. Greenville.South Carolina.April 27, 1890.”
James Aldrich (1850–1910) was a prominent South Carolina attorney, legislator and circuit judge.
His connection with the Perry family is independently documented. In 1887, Aldrich wrote to Mrs. B. F. Perry thanking her for sending him a memorial publication concerning her late husband.
Aldrich was elected a South Carolina circuit judge in December 1889, only a few months before Mrs. Perry presented this volume to him.
ORIGINAL 1890 HANDWRITTEN MATERIAL INCLUDED
Preserved inside the book is an additional handwritten note/letter dated:
Greenville, May 2, 1890
— only five days after the dated presentation inscription.
The letter concerns Benjamin F. Perry's correspondence and its importance to his family. It refers to the letters as private family material intended for the wife, children and grandchildren, and mentions more than 200 letters.
The note appears to be associated with Mrs. B. F. Perry, and an accompanying handwritten address slip reads:
“Please acknowledge to Mrs. B. F. Perry Sr.North & Church Sts.Greenville, S. Ca.”
The presentation inscription, contemporary handwritten material, and documented relationship between Judge James Aldrich and the Perry family make this an especially interesting association copy with South Carolina historical provenance.
CONDITION
Antique condition with substantial wear consistent with its age.
The binding is in poor condition and the front cover is detached/separated from the book. There is considerable wear to the covers and spine, edge wear, staining, toning, spotting and other age-related deterioration.
Interior pages show age toning and occasional staining/foxing but retain the printed text, portraits and illustrations.
The original handwritten material shows age and wear as pictured.
Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition and completeness.
An unusual original privately printed 1889 volume combining South Carolina history, Governor Benjamin Franklin Perry, Judge James Aldrich, documented presentation provenance, and original 1890 manuscript material.
Pictures are part of the description.
Sold as shown and as-is due to age and condition.
(BI#SBDR)
