The Rail-Roads, History and Commerce of Chicago. Second Edition.
Chicago: Democratic Press Job and Book Steam Printing Office, 45 Clark St. 1854. First edition. Original pictorial wrappers, 9.5 x 6 inches, 80 pages, printed in double columns. Wrappers somewhat soiled and worn, with some light stains and some chipping to the spine; leaves somewhat dust-soiled, with some small closed marginal tears; a good, sound copy. Item #18551
Dated in type at the head of the first page of text, January 31, 1854, with the note, “Second edition of Five Thousand Copies,” noting that the first edition of the three articles on Chicago here collected “was all sold within a few days after it was issued. The text remains mainly as it was first written. A few alterations have been made, and errors corrected.” The text of these promotional-commercial pieces on Chicago runs through page 71; the balance is ads and a 2-page note from the Democratic Press on the “Progress of Western Journalism,” with details of the newspaper and its printing plant. Includes a note at the foot of the text dated Oct. 7, 1854, downplaying the effects of cholera on the city in the summer of 1854 and arguing Chicago remains “one of the healthiest cities in the Union.” Byrd 2095 (noting some copies with an additional imprint of Iglehart & Co., land dealers, on the front wrapper; that issue includes a tipped-in map, not called for in this issue).
Price: $250.00