[Rarebooks] FS: The destroyer of weeds, thistles and thorns is a benefactor, whether he soweth grain or not

[Charles Agvent]

INGERSOLL, Robert G . THE WORKS OF ROBERT G. INGERSOLL. "The destroyer 
of weeds, thistles and thorns is a benefactor, whether he soweth grain 
or not" New York: The Dresden Publishing Co./C. P. Farrell, 1902. 
Autograph Edition . Twelve octavo (6" x 9") volumes attractively bound 
in 3/4 green morocco leather and marbled boards with gilt rules, the 
spine with five raised bands and four floral gilt decorations with red 
morocco onlays for the petals. Each volume is illustrated with a 
frontispiece, mostly portraits, with the first volume also containing a 
hand-colored title page and a check SIGNED by the author bound in. Each 
volume is copy #2 of a limited edition of 250 copies. Light wear to some 
corners, a nick here and there. About Fine with a handsome shelf appearance.

Ingersoll was a popular orator who spoke on many subjects, his favorite 
being agnosticism, and he often poked fun at religious belief. He was 
known in his time as "the great agnostic" and a champion in his time for 
civil rights, women's reproductive freedom, and limiting the role of 
religion in government. Ingersoll enjoyed a friendship with the poet 
Walt Whitman, who considered Ingersoll the greatest orator of his time: 
"It should not be surprising that I am drawn to Ingersoll, for he is 
Leaves of Grass... He lives, embodies, the individuality, I preach. I 
see in Bob [Ingersoll] the noblest specimen---American-flavored---pure 
out of the soil, spreading, giving, demanding light." Ingersoll 
delivered the eulogy at the poet's funeral in 1892. (#015992)        
$4,000.00

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/015992.JPG

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