[Rarebooks] FS: Election Day Special: INSCRIBED Mystery Book from FDR, price reduced

[Charles Agvent]

Price reduced to $4000 NET

ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. ON OUR WAY with the Sotheby's 16 June 1992 
auction catalogue. New York: John Day, (1934). First Edition. Original 
blue cloth. Early issue with errors on pages x and 162 uncorrected and 
with the errata slip laid in. An important book, the recently elected 
president's presentation of his plans, referred to as the "New Deal" by 
the people, to pull America from the pit of the Depression. INSCRIBED 
and SIGNED on the front free endpaper "For Babe/with love from/Franklin 
D. Roosevelt." This book sold as lot 273 in Sotheby's 16 June 1992 
auction as the personal copy of Marguerite ("Missy") Le Hand, FDR's 
personal secretary from 1920 until illness forced her retirement in 
1942. She worked with FDR both in Albany and at the White House during 
his first three terms as president, establishing an intimate 
relationship that many thought, and still think, went beyond friendship. 
We have uncovered no other instance, however, when FDR referred to her 
as "Babe." Possibly the recipient was Barbara "Babe" Cushing, the 
youngest daughter of the famous surgeon, Dr. Harvey Cushing, and later 
married to CBS tycoon William Paley. Her sister, Betsy, was at this time 
married to FDR's son, James, and living with him in the White House 
where she often served as a companion to the lonely president. Possibly, 
FDR was writing this inscription to the younger sister of his 
daughter-in-law. The question remains: What was this book doing in the 
possessions of Missy Le Hand? Is that "e" in "Babe" actually an "s" and 
this copy is inscribed to Eleanor with FDR's pet name, "Babs," for her? 
Perhaps we will never have an answer. Spine sunned, as usual. Very Good 
in a Very Good dustwrapper supplied from another copy. (#010213)        
$6,500.00

http://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/010213.html


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