Edition de Medicis
ANGE PITOU ; or TAKING THE BASTILLE
by Alexandre Dumas
in 2 volumes, complete
Boston, Dana Estes and Company; no date (c.1900)
Numbered copy. Limited edition to one thousand copies. Copy number 197
Fine signed binding: bound by Stikeman and Co., N.Y.
400 and 383 pages
Illustrated
Gilt decorated binding, top edge is gilt, uncut other edges. Cloth endpapers.
Size 6 by 9"
Perfect interior condition, minor wear of binding, dry spines with some chips to leather.
Text in English
Provenance:
Each volume with ex-libris for Albert Henry Wiggin (1868-1951), featuring the family crest and motto "Suae Fidei Semper Fidelis."
He was a significant player on Wall Street, chiefly as president and chairman of Chase National Bank.
There is a set of bookplates, showing that Mr. Wiggin passed this book to his son-in-law Lynde Selden.
These plates show that the owner spent time researching his heritage. The blended family crest includes the phrase "Liberty above all things."
This hearkens back to the 8,000 volume donation to the Bodleian Library (Oxford) in the 16th century by John Seldon (1584-1654), English scholar and law historian.
A round Ex Libris overlaps the more traditional bookplate with his full name and what looks to be a Danish phrase: "Ik Mak Sikker."
One could easily believe this a reference to the ancient Selden motto that translates as "To suffer is best" (Optimum pati).
A financier like his father-in-law, Lynde Selden (1892-1972) was Vice Chairman of the American Express Company and served as director for several other companies.
Perhaps then this book was passed to Lynde's son, named for the original recipient: Albert Wiggin Selden (1922-1987). Although not in banking, this Yale graduate made significant contributions as an American theatrical producer and composer.

Albert Henry Wiggin (1868 – 1951) was an American banker.
General Electric's Owen D. Young once described him as "the most colorful and attractive figure in the commercial banking world" of his time.
Wiggin was the Director of privately owned Federal Reserve Bank of New York 1932-33.
Wiggin was also the only member of the Federal Reserve Bank to have a law written precisely against his actions, the “Wiggin Provision”, when Albert was forced to “resign in disgrace after it was revealed that he had been short-selling his own bank’s stock”



Reserve: $104.00

Shipping:

Domestic: Flat-rate of $25.00 to anywhere within the contiguous U.S.

International: Foreign shipping rates are determined by destination. International shipping may be subject to VAT.

Combined shipping: Please ask about combined shipping for multiple lots before bidding.

Location: This item ships from Pennsylvania

Your purchase is protected:
Photos, descriptions, and estimates were prepared with the utmost care by a fully certified expert and appraiser. All items in this sale are guaranteed authentic.

In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Jasper52 specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Jasper52 within 5 days of receiving the item.