Victor, Orville J. The History, Civil, Political and Military, of the Southern Rebellion, from its incipient stages to its close (Vols. 1 & 2); Comprehending, also, all important State Papers, Ordinances of Secession, Proclamations, Proceedings of Congress, Official Reports of Commanders, etc., etc. New York: James D. Torrey, 1863. First Editions. [10758]
Copyright for both volumes, 1861; preface date volume two, 1863. Two volumes as first published.
Full leather publisher's bindings, decorated in blind and gilt, with gilt eagles & shields on all four boards. 10 1/4 x 7 inches, light edge-wear, top of volume one a bit frayed, some small worming to the joints, yet very handsome, tight bindings. All page edges marbled, marbled end papers. Fine steel-engraved frontispieces & plates. viii., 5311; viii, 537 clean pages. Very good. Hardcover.
This enormous resources treats with the Southern Secession, the beginnings of the war, and the history of it until early 1862. It is replete with historical documents and official papers. It is complete as first published, with two additional volumes added later.
"Never, since the revolt of Lucifer, has there been a more causeless rebellion against a justly-constituted and beneficent government. Never has civilization known a more reckless abuse of its prerogatives to demoralize and cripple its own development. In the height of its prosperity, the 'Great Democratic Experiment' is arrested by a mere faction of unscrupulous men, through whose efforts, aided by the weakness of a Chief Magistrate, the country is humiliated in its pride, abased in its glory, and made to feel a weight of woe which it will take generations to forget." - Introduction.
Orville James Victor (1827-1910), b. Sandusky, Ohio; d. Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. Victor was a journalist, historian, and editor, and was for thirty-six years editor for the Beadle Publishing Company, contributing many biographies and historical writings to their dime series. He wrote his American Civil War history between 1862 and 1865, publishing parts as they were complete, resulting in a large four-volume set.
