FDR Signed 5 Volumes of His Public Papers and Address, Beautifully Cased

ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. "The Public Papers Â…", five volumes, thick 8vos., full grey morocco, stamped in gilt, edges and tips slightly rubbed, in two quarter morocco slipcases. Ex-Donald Scott Carmichael.




First Edition of the first five volumes of FDRs's monumental "collected" public papers; prints material from his first term as governor of New York through the 1936 re-election. This copy is from the deluxe issue of 500, printed on a high grade of stock and bound in full grey morocco.




FDR's contribution to the Public Papers was significant, and helped create "the most interesting, authoritative and historically valuable works of its kind ever published". It is worth noting that no other President ever undertook such an exhaustive self-publication project while in office.




There is considerable mystery surrounding this set that can not entirely be explained. The title pages in all five volumes are printed in black and blue on a dark, buttery yellow-gold background, as are the leaves facing the title pages on which appear the subtitles. And, on the verso of the title pages is printed the publication and production information, repeated identically five times. However, the President's inscription to Joseph Blumenthal funs in a single, unbroken line across the top of what appears to be a proof of the title page and the content's leaf, bound in between the front endpaper and half title of Volume I. They are believed to be proof, or trial, leaves, as they are printed on grey rather than gold background, and the verso of the title page is blank. Lastly, the title page where the second half of FDR's inscription appears, is for the 1933 volume, the second, not the first, in the sequence.




This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.




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