[SCOTT, WINFIELD]. Illustrated Life of General Winfield Scott, Commander-in-Chief of the Army in Mexico Illustrated by D.H. Strother. New York: Published by A.S. Barnes & Co., No. 51 John-Street, 1847. [1-3] 4-144 pp., 35 wood-engraved text illustrations, including 2 full-page maps and 26 full-page scenes. 8vo (21.5 x 13 cm), early full brown cloth, spine gilt lettered and decorated. Title soiled, foxed, dusty, and with closed 7 cm tear; other pages somewhat soiled; otherwise fine.

First edition of a work that was several times reprinted and expanded. Garrett & Goodwin, p. 223. Haferkorn, p. 61. Sabin 78409.

The section on the Mexican-American War is on pp. 128-143. Strother’s drawings were engraved by several engravers, including John William Orr (1815-1887). Wood engraver Orr was born in Ireland, came to the United States at an early age, and studied with William Redfield in New York City. Orr established studios in Buffalo (1837) and New York City (1844). “He was one of the best known wood engravers of his generation” (Hamilton, Early American Book Illustrators and Wood Engravers, vol. 2, p. 127). Other engravers include Lossing & Barritt, Howland, N.W. Herrick, et al. One map and one scene concern the Mexican-American War. A book far more prized for its illustrations than for its text.