7 EARLY VOLUMES - LAKESIDE PRESS CLASSICS

~THE  LAKESIDE CLASSICS –

~ AN IMPORTANT 8 VOLUME COLLECTION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND RARE LAKESIDE PRESS CLASSICS ISSUES ~

Chicago. R.R.Donnelley & Sons Company - The Lakeside Press. (Spans) 1903 – 1909. All volumes issued near Christmas for the respective issue year. 12 mo (4.5 inches x 6.875 inches). Although each volume is a limited issue, printing numbers vary. Bound in original dark green, fine cloth with gilt titles and gilt bordered design on each top panel. Top edges gilt. Bindings tight and in generally very good or better condition. In general, minor wear to spine tips and extreme corners. Internally, very good overall. All books with folding plates or frontispieces complete as issued; nothing missing. Additionally, there are no broken hinges, gutters or damp stains in any of the volumes. See individual book inventory below for further condition details. Rather serendipitously, the most rare and sought after volumes in this lot are in the best condition.  

Collectors of  the Lakeside Press books need little introduction to the importance of the titles in this collection. Offered here are THE MOST RARE AND DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE first 7 titles in the series. The buyer of this set could more reasonably complete an entire set over time without much additional effort or dealer assistance. After these difficult, early volumes are secured, a complete collection is a far more possible and fruitful endeavor.

Unfortunately the key obstacle for 1000’s of collectors is the very few available copies of the 3 very difficult to acquire years; 1903, 1904 & 1906.

For those unfamiliar with the Lakeside Press Classics series, an article in the most recent issue of Fine Books & Collections Magazine features an article specifically covering this intensely collected fine press book series.

BOOKS IN THIS COLLECTION;

1)    1903 – THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN – First issue. Minor wear to spine tips. Light pencil to pastedown; otherwise VG+ to near fine overall. The scarce and 3^rd most sought after title in the Lakeside Classics run.

2)    1904 – INAUGURAL ADDRESSES OF THE PRESIDENTS…..WASHINGTON TO LINCOLN. First Issue. Minor wear to spine tips. Light pencil to pastedown; otherwise VG overall. Widely sought after as the 2nd most desirable title.

3)    1905 -  INAUGURAL ADDRESSES OF THE PRESIDENTS…..JOHNSON TO ROOSEVELT. First Issue. Minor wear to spine tips. Light pencil to pastedown; otherwise VG overall.

4)    1906 – FRUITS OF SOLITUDE… First Issue. Minor wear to spine tips. Light pencil to pastedown,  previous owner name in ink on FFEP otherwise VG+ to near fine overall. The MOST sought after volume in the series. Only 600 believed to have been printed and very few remain and fewer still in near fine condition. Quite rare in this condition. 

5)    1907 – MEMORABLE AMERICAN SPEECHES – COLONIAL PERIOD (I). First Issue. Minor wear to spine tips. Light pencil to pastedown; otherwise VG overall.

6)    1908 -  MEMORABLE AMERICAN SPEECHES – DEMOCRACY AND NATIONALITY (II). First Issue. Minor wear to spine tips; edge of top panel gutter rubbed with color loss. Light pencil to pastedown; otherwise VG - overall.

7)    1909 - MEMORABLE AMERICAN SPEECHES – SLAVERY (III).First Issue. Minor wear to spine tips; newsprint clipping burn to p. 36/37. Light pencil to pastedown; otherwise VG overall.