Lincoln, Abraham, and Stephen A. Douglas. Political Debates... Columbus: Follett, Foster and Company, 1860

LINCOLN, ABRAHAM, AND STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS

POLITICAL DEBATES BETWEEN HON. ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND HON. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, IN THE CELEBRATED CAMPAIGN OF 1858, IN ILLINOIS. COLUMBUS: FOLLETT, FOSTER AND COMPANY, 1860  

8vo (9 1/8 x 6 in.; 232 x mm). "Correspondence" leaf including Lincoln's letter to the Republican State Central Committee of Ohio acceding to the publication of his speeches, fourth leaf blank and genuine; some toning, one or two pencil annotations. Publisher's blind-panelled brown cloth, spine gilt-lettered, plain endpapers and edges; some rubbing, primarily to corners and spine ends, front free endleaves torn at gutter. 

First edition, first issue, with the signature mark "2" at the bottom of page 17

The first published version of the famed Illinois senate debates that launched Lincoln into national prominence. Stephen Douglas complained of the publication that "Mr. Lincoln's speeches have been refined, corrected, and improved...while mine have been mutilated and in some instances the meaning changed" (Douglas to Follett, Foster & Co., 9 June 1860, Lincoln Papers, LOC). When published as a presidential campaign tool in April 1860, the collected speeches became a best-seller, and by the time of Lincoln’s official nomination, some 30,000 copies were in circulation.

LITERATURE:

Howes L388; Sabin 41156