Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign, Embracing Scenes of the Occupation of Nashville, the Great Battles around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, the Campaign of Atlanta, March to the Sea, and the Great Raid through the Carolinas
Herman Manasse, after 1953. Quarter Leather. Very Good+ binding. Item #10075
Oblong folio. [3], [61] ll. Photographic reproduction. All pages are photographic paper (likely sliver gelatin prints), stubbed and bound in cloth boards, backed in morocco. Binding is 16" x 19." Cover titled in gilt with presentation name in gilt below: "Mr. and Mrs. T. Harry Gatton." The first leaf, is a photographic reproduction of the endpaper of the original copy capturing an ownership note in French, dated 1952. This note, along with a printed inclusion (also part of the photograph), identifies the copy used for reproduction as belonging to G. M. ver Hulst having come to him from his uncle, the Comte Francois de Montholon who died 23 December 1951. The printed inclusion notes that this reproduction was done "by Herman Manasse especially for Mr. & Mrs. T. Harry Gatton of Raleigh, North Carolina." We use the endpaper inscription as the earliest possible date of reproduction. Based on the physical aspects of the book, it was probably done not long after that time.
Only light wear to the binding. The "contents" leaf has a small closed tear to the top margin; rippling to the photographs throughout. It appears that during the rephotographing process the border of each photograph was masked off, except for each photograph's title. Count Montholon's copy was exceptionally clean making this a remarkably good reproduction, a couple of the images capture some abrading to the original, but generally, these are very clean, bright images of one of the great American photographic works. As official photographer of the Military Division of Mississippi, Barnard photographed Sherman's march to the sea, capturing the devastation left in the wake of the general's controversial scorched earth campaign. The images are indeed striking. A contemporary review calls this, "a splendid volume, containing 61 imperial photographs, embracing scenes of the Occupation of Nashville, the Great Battles around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, the Campaign of Atlanta, March to the Sea, and the Great Raid through the Carolinas. These photographs are views of important places, of noted battle-field, of military works; and, for the care and judgment in selecting the points of view, for the delicacy of execution, for scope of treatment, and for fidelity of representation, they surpass any other photographic views which have been produced in this country—whether relating to the war or otherwise." Harper's Weekly, Dec. 8, 1866. p. 771. And indeed, it has held up as a monument of American photography. While the first edition does come to market periodically, it realizes some extraordinary prices.
We've been unable to determine how many copies of this full-sized reproduction were created. Though the inclusion on the first leaf specifically states that this copy was for Gatton, a series of cards could have been substituted as the leaf was repeatedly photographed, individualizing each copy. So, while it is certainly possible that this is a one-off, it is more likely that a very small number were reproduced and presented to friends, family, and notables. To that end, Thomas Harry Gatton (1918-2001) was a notable North Carolinian. Beyond his professional endeavors, he was a World War II veteran, chairman of the North Carolina Historical Commission, and was appointed to the American Battle Monuments Commission by presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Carter. In short, one to whom this presentation would have been warranted and meaningful. Howes B-150; Sabin 3462; De Renne p.1317 (all for the first edition), Taft, Photography and the American Scene, p. 232, 486.
Price: $7,500.00