A. Lincoln: The Crucible of Congress

New York: Crown Publishers, 1979. Hardcover. Small 4to. Tan cloth spine and brown paper over boards, pictorial dust jacket. xvii, 270pp. Numerous illustrations. Near fine/near fine. Endpapers ever-so-slightly age toned, as usual. A tight, handsome first edition of this study by a west central Illinois congressman ("from Lincoln's District," no less) covering (to quote the jacket's front panel) "The Years Which Forged His Greatness." Fine autograph accompaniment: Tipped to the front flyleaf is a "Congress of the United States" business-size envelope containing a 1-page Typed Note Signed from Findley, 8½" X 11", Washington, DC, 10 September 1980. Addressed to noted Lincoln and Civil War authority Ralph G. Newman (1912-98), founder of Chicago's famed Abraham Lincoln Book Shop. Near fine. Light original folds. On "Congress of the United States" letterhead, Findley (born 1921) thanks his old friend for campaign help -- in part: "Thanks for your generous support in the campaign and equally for the generous words in your letter... In fact if you don't mind it would please me to have the privilege of showing your letter to others as opportunities arise." Signed simply "Paul" in sloppy blue fineline. Nice association -- from the congressman in Lincoln's district to the best-known Lincoln specialist dealer ever.