"Lives of the Presidents of the United States of America, From Washington to the Present Time. Containing a narrative of the most interesting events in the career of each President, thus constituting a graphic history of the United States. Illustrated with portraits of all the presidents engraved on steel, pictures of their private residences and thirty other wood engravings". By John S.C. Abbott, published by B.B. Russell, Boston, 1867, first edition with Preface dated 1866, and copyright 1866 [note: second edition was published with copyright 1869]. The book covers the period from George Washington to Andrew Johnson.

Steel plates on heavy paper (all listed plates are present):
Frontispiece group portrait of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, and Andrew Johnson, engraved by J.C. Buttre
The British Fleet leaving Boston Harbor, Drawn by L. Hollis, engraved by F.T. Stuart.
Group portrait of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Martin Van Buren
Group portrait of seven presidents engraved by F.T. Stuart
Battle of New Orleans, 1815, Drawn by Billings, engraved by O'Pelton, Boston
Battle of Buena Vista, drawn by Billings, engraved by J. Duthie
Abraham Lincoln entering Richmond, April 3, 1865, drawn by L. Hollis, engraved by J.C. Buttre

John Chester Buttre (1821-1893), was an American steel-plate engraver and lithographer, responsible for some 3,000 engraved portraits of American political, naval and military personalities. Buttre was one of the leading American engravers specializing on steel engraving.

Frederick T. Stuart (1837-1913) was painter and engraver of portraits active in Boston and Newton Center, Massachusetts from 1857, little information seems to be recorded about him. Arriving in New York in 1841, he devoted himself to steel-plate engraving, at which he soon became successful, his work appearing in many magazines and newspapers. He produced a widely acclaimed full-length portrait of President James Buchanan in 1858, together with a full-length portrait of Martha Washington. His Civil War work included sentimental images such as "The Empty Sleeve," "Only a Little Brook" and "Prayer in Camp," all of which sold well. He exhibited at the Boston Art Club from 1880-1907, the Pennsylvania Academy in 1891 to 1901, and the Art Institute of Chicago, 1880-1907.

John Stevens Cabot Abbott (1805-1877), an American historian, pastor, and writer. He was a brother of Jacob Abbott, and was associated with him in the management of Abbott's Institute, New York City, and in the preparation of his series of brief historical biographies. He was a voluminous writer of books which were credited with cultivating a popular interest in history. He is best known as the author of the widely popular History of Napoleon Bonaparte (1855), in which the various elements and episodes in Napoleon's career are described. Also among his principal works are: History of the Civil War in America (1863-1866),History of Napoleon III Emperor of the French (1868), and The History of Frederick II, Called Frederick the Great (New York, 1871). He also did a foreword to a book called Life of Boone by W.M. Bogart, about Daniel Boone in 1876.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------------ $14.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $29.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $39.95

Hard boards, original publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine [some wear— mostly spine ends, spine fade and a few creases]; 6” x 9.1/2”; 480 pages including Index; large old dump stain through the book is mostly visible on the plates [see photos]; no smell, good/ very good condition.