Lenox, James - Letters to Charles Deane regarding Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia", 1863-05-27 - 1863-06-04

3 manuscript ALS from James Lenox (noted book collector) to Charles Deane (antiquarian and historian) regarding Lenox' two copies of the first edition of Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia". Each letter is 5" x 8": May 27, 1863 (2p.); May 29, 1863 (1p.);June 4, 1863 (2p.) Deane asks to see one of the copies which was originally owned by the Abbe Morellet, French encyclopedist and translator of the Notes into French, which Lenox ships to him. Lenox comments on many points of issue regarding the first edition, including that the map in one of these copies was taken from the later English edition - the first edition having not been issued with a map.

Also, an envelope from Witkower's Booksellers and Stationers, Hartford, Conn. with a typewritten note on the envelope regarding the content of these letters. It is uncertain whether these letters were procured from Witkower's.

The Lenox Library was merged with the Astor Library and Tilden Trust in 1895 to create the New York Public Library, where most of Lenox' papers are now housed.

Deane's papers are housed at the Clements Library at the University of Michigan.

See material about both libraries, included in this file.