Memoirs Appraisal

Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Volume II

The item is identified as a volume from "Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant." It is a hardcover book with a dark green fabric binding, likely cloth or buckram, displaying a somewhat faded and mottled appearance indicative of age and handling. The front cover features the title "PERSONAL MEMOIRS, OF U. S. GRANT" embossed in gold lettering, positioned towards the top. A prominent feature on the front cover is a large, circular brass or gold-toned medallion, centrally placed, depicting a bust of U.S. Grant in profile, surrounded by what appears to be decorative text or a laurel wreath, though the details within the medallion are not perfectly clear from the image. The spine of the book also features gold lettering, including repeating elements of the title, "VOLUME -II-" (suggesting it is the second volume of a set), and likely the publisher's name at the very bottom, partially obscured but possibly reading "C.L. WEBSTER & CO." or similar. Below the main title on the spine, there are three gold embossed stars, possibly indicating Grant's rank or simply as a decorative element. The book shows signs of wear consistent with its age, including some scuffing, discoloration, and potential slight fraying along the edges and corners of the binding. Despite these signs of use, the overall construction appears sturdy, suggesting a well-bound book. The quality of the embossing and the applied metallic medallion indicate a relatively high standard of craftsmanship for its time. Given the title and the historical context provided, this book likely dates back to around 1886, potentially being a first edition or an early print.