Inscription and Signature

This Universalist minister and historian expounded his belief that Universalism dominated Christianity in its early centuries in such books as "Witnesses to the Truth: Containing Passages From Distinguished Authors, Developing the Great Truth of Universal Salvation" (1854) and others; in 1885 he published his own version of the New Testament -- "Hanson's edited New Testament"; his experiences as a Union chaplain during the Civil War he captured in his 1866 "Historical sketch of the old Sixth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers during its three campaigns in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864." Inscription and signature boldly penned in black ink on a 5 3/4" X 9½" sheet: "Sarah Eleanor Hanson / From her Father, the Author / J.W. Hanson / Christmas 1899." Near fine. On the verso is a photograph captioned "American Progress," which is the frontispiece for one of Hanson's last books: "Wonders of the Nineteenth Century: A Panoramic Review of the Inventions and Discoveries of the Past Hundred Years" (Chicago: W.B. Conkey Company, 1900). This gift inscription to his daughter was likely from a "hot off the press" copy of his latest book, which was copyrighted in 1899 but released in 1900. Unusual.