BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

NY: Viking, 1938. First Edition Limited. Hardcover. Near Fine. The 1939 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, and presentation copy from author Van Doren to his daughter's step mother-in-law, Marjorie Torre Chanslor, illustrator and writer of children's books, and two mystery novels for adults published under the name Torrey Bevans. (Marjorie's first husband was Thomas Murray Bevans, whose son Thomas Torre Bevans - by previous marriage - became husband to Margaret Van Doren, of one of three of Carl Van Doren's daughters.) Inscribed by Van Doren's son-in-law, Tom Bevans (nicknamed The Bum since birth) to Marjorie: "For Marjorie with love from the Bum and Margaret" under which Van Doren has inscribed "not to mention Carl Van Doren". Signed on the limitation by Van Doren; this copy #20 or 600 copies. An unused and apparently unread set, three volumes in green linen with title label front and spine. gte, sides uncut, housed in marbleized paper-covered slipcase. A handsome production set in Baskerville and Bell types, with typography by M. B. Glick. Books still have partial glassine wrappers. Spines slightly darkened where glassine went missing. Slipcase moderately worn and soiled, split along one seam.