Popular History of the United States of America 1876 Ridpath Civil War Antique For Sale

1876 John Clark Ridpath A Popular History of the United States of America
An impressive 1876 illustrated history of the United States, published by Jones Brothers & Co. during America\'s Centennial year, when the United States was only 100 years old, and the Civil War had ended just 11 years earlier.

Written by historian John Clark Ridpath, A Popular History of the United States of America: From the Aboriginal Times to the Present Day presents American history from a remarkable 19th-century perspective.

This substantial antique volume begins with early exploration and continues through Colonial America, the American Revolution, formation of the United States, the War of 1812, westward expansion, Mexican-American War, Civil War and Reconstruction.

This was published when the United States was only 100 years old:
The historical context of this book is one of its most fascinating features. Published in 1876, it appeared exactly 100 years after the Declaration of Independence, during the United States Centennial.

Even more remarkable, the American Civil War had ended only 11 years before this book was published. Abraham Lincoln\'s assassination was also only 11 years in the past, and the United States was still in the Reconstruction era.

For the original readers of this book, the Civil War was not distant history. Veterans, civilians and political figures who had personally experienced the conflict were still living, and many of the events described in its later chapters had occurred within their own lifetimes.

That gives this volume an extraordinary perspective. It isn\'t simply an old book about American history, it is an American history book published while some of the history it records was still within living memory.

Today, the book itself is approximately 150 years old.

Far more than a text-only history, this large volume contains an extensive collection of period historical material, including:

• Historical maps
• Color maps
• Engraved portraits and illustrations
• Early exploration and Vinland/Norse material
• Colonial-era maps and history
• American Revolution material
• George Washington and the Founding era
• War of 1812
• Mexican-American War
• Abraham Lincoln and the Civil color fold-out chronological historical chart

The appendices also reproduce important American historical documents, including the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution of the United States, Washington\'s Farewell Address and Emancipation Proclamation.

Together, the maps, engravings, portraits, charts and historical documents make this as visually interesting as it is historically significant.

This genuine 1876 antique volume shows the effects of nearly 150 years of age and storage. The covers and outermost front and back areas have visible soiling, staining, discoloration and evidence of past moisture exposure, as clearly documented in the photographs. These issues are most noticeable toward the front and back of the book.

Importantly, the interior remains readable throughout. Pages separate and turn normally and none have been noted to be stuck together. Interior pages show expected age toning, scattered spotting/foxing, marks and other age-related wear.

The book retains the extensive period illustrations, historical maps and impressive fold-out chronological material shown in the photographs.

Please review all pictures for the exact condition of the covers, binding, pages, maps, illustrations and fold-out material. Photos are an important part of the description and show both the book\'s surviving historical material and its age-related condition.

A fascinating surviving piece of 19th-century Americana, with appeal to collectors of antiquarian books, American history, historical maps and cartography, Centennial-era Americana, the American Revolution, Civil War and Reconstruction history, presidential history, illustrated books and historical ephemera.