When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Volume II signature/title page is loose. These books are in delicate condition.
DESCRIPTION:
A remarkable Civil War association set—each volume bears the signature of a documented Union Army captain!
Offered here is the complete two-volume 1898 edition of The Great Rebellion by J. T. Headley, published by The National Tribune of Washington, D.C. The books feature distinctive gold-brown, reptile-grain embossed publisher’s bindings with black lettering and patriotic wreath decorations.
Most notably, each volume contains one handwritten signature or inscription bearing the name of Captain John G. Langguth—two signatures total across the set. One reads “Capt. John G. Langguth,” while the other appears to read “from Capt. J. G. Langguth.”
Historical records identify him as Captain John George Langguth of the 17th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Union Army. His documented military advancement included:
• Second lieutenant, Company B — May 15, 1862
• First lieutenant — January 1, 1863
• Captain, Company A — December 7, 1863
• Mustered out — September 15, 1864
During Langguth’s period of service, the 17th Missouri participated in major campaigns and engagements including Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold and the Atlanta Campaign. Langguth later left firsthand recollections of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.
After the war, Langguth became a Chicago optician and dealer in mathematical instruments. He remained involved in veterans’ affairs as a member of Lyons Post No. 9 of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Union Veterans League.
DETAILS:
• Title: The Great Rebellion
• Author: J. T. Headley
• Date: 1898
• Publisher: The National Tribune, Washington, D.C.
• Format: Two-volume hardcover set
• Binding: Gold-brown reptile-grain embossed publisher’s covering over boards
• Signed: Each volume contains one Captain John G. Langguth signature or inscription
• Total signatures: Two—one in each book
• Subject: American Civil War and Union military history
CONDITION:
Antique set showing considerable age and use. The bindings display rubbing, scuffing, edge and corner wear, surface loss, exposed board along portions of the edges, and wear and chipping at the spine ends. Volume I has especially noticeable covering loss near the upper front edge. Pages display expected age toning and occasional spotting or handling wear. No page-by-page collation has been performed.
The signatures are attributed through the matching name, military rank and historical records, but the handwriting has not been professionally authenticated. The textured bindings are not represented as genuine snakeskin.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
A captivating 1898 Civil War set with a direct connection to a genuine Union officer—an appealing acquisition for collectors of Missouri military history, signed antiquarian books, Grand Army of the Republic material and nineteenth-century Americana.
