JAMES A. SEDDON

JAMES A. SEDDON
(1815-1880) U.S. congressman from Virginia who served as Confederate Secretary of War until just before the end of the Civil War. Scarce war-date signed book, 'The Luck of Barry Lyndon: A Romance of the Last Century' by W. M. Thackeray (New York: D. Appleton and Company), 1852, 267pp., 8vo. Seddon signs twice in pencil, signing on the front flyleaf adding the Confederate capital 'Richmond' and the date 'Ja[nuary] 1853' and signing on the title page adding 'Richmond, VA'. This indicates that the book was signed during Seddon's service as Secretary of War under Jefferson Davis. The bookplate of his son, A.M. Seddon, is affixed to the front pastedown, and the signature of his daughter-in-law, Josephine Seddon, is written on the title page. The book is bound in red cloth boards with black and gilt titles and decorations indicating that it is part of The International Scientific Series'. Spine shows significant damage yet binding is intact, appreciable foxing throughout the interior pages, signatures a bit light yet clearly legible. Just good condition.