THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO. From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.: Volume 2 only (of 3)

Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1885. First edition. Hardcover. maps, woodcuts, engraved portraits. Quarto, 780 pages, contemporary half morocco, chipped spine, covers detached - in a black cloth custom clamshell box: offered "as is" with various small faults to the pages; folding photographic plate of the Great Fire (at page 758) chipped, and mended at folds.

The Standard History of Chicago through the 19thC - and not since superseded in its usefulness. [Jewell A18]. Andreas' work is fundamental to the study of Chicago [ Howes A243]. "The great mine of Chicago history ... undoubtedly the three volumes were the biggest and most important project ever undertaken and completed by Chicago printers [to that time] -Paul Angle." Andreas assembled this unparallelled reference work by employing platoons of researchers. In addition to the historical accounts, there are 2236 complete biographies within. " [THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO] is still recognized as the best historical record of Chicago in the nineteenth century -Walter W. Ristow." This volume covers the years 1857 - 1871 ( so it includes Chicago in the Civil War, and ends with the aftermath of the Great Fire of October, 1871. This copy lacks the lithographed frontispiece plate; but, it has the McVicker plate (frequently lacking) along with a color map, 15 (mostly steel plate) portrait engravings, and the fold-out photo plate of the Great Chicago Fire. Also abundantly illustrated with woodcuts, maps, and facsimile autographs of notable Chicagoans. [ CHICAGO BY THE BOOK 101 Publications That Shaped The City and Its Image, 11 ].