Achievements of Civilization: The Book of Wealth

New York: The Bancroft Company, 1896. Full Description:

BANCROFT, Hubert Howe. Achievements of Civilization: The Book of Wealth. Wealth in Relation to Material and Intellectual Progress and Achievement. Being an Inquiry into the Nature and Distribution of the World's Resources and Riches, and a History of the Origin and Influence of Property, its Possession, Accumulation and Disposition in all Ages and among all Nations, as a Factor in Human Accomplishments, an Agency of Human Refinement, and in the Evolution of Civilization from the earliest to the present era. New York: The Bancroft Company, 1896-1897.

First edition, deluxe "Edition Cygne Noir." Limited to 150 copies, this being number 96 signed by the author on the dedication page. This copy is dedicated to Hamilton McKown Twombly. Ten folio volumes (22 x 16 3/4 inches; 558 x 426 mm). Titles printed in red and black. With the original ten watercolors inset onto the front board of each volume. With over 2,500 illustrations throughout the text. Volume 8 issued without title-page, a publishing error. This set originally was accompanied by a separate portfolio of plates, however they are most often lacking, as in the present set.

Newer full green silk, in the style of the original golden silk bindings which was not hardy enough to withstand the size of the volume. Green morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt. Each volume with an inset original watercolor by various artists on front board. Cream watered silk doublures. Floral textured endpapers. All edges gilt. Repairs to the inner gutters on the front free endpaper of volumes 8 and 9. Overall a near fine set of a group of books that often are not found complete.

This set is a "companion and consort to the Book of the Fair, one marking the progress and recording the achievements of the human race as exemplified in the Columbian Exposition, the other unfolding the motive power by which they have been accomplished." (Hubert Howe Bancroft).

According to the Chicago Tribune, "It is the most wonderful book in the world, its sponsors say-an illustrated summary of all that is most worth knowing, all that ever can be remembered of the history of every nation and era of all times, from the dawn of civilization in Egypt and Chaldea to the culture and industrial development which mark the closing years of the nineteenth century, especially in the United States of America. The two editions of this work will cost $250,500. In all only 400 copies will be printed-150 of the first or cygne noir edition at $2,500 a copy, and 200 copies of a less embellished edition at $1,000 a copy. Each copy is made up of ten sections of 100 pages each-1,000 pages in all."

The watercolor panels on each volume are as follows:

Vol. 1 is entitled "Jason and the Golden Fleece." by Will H. Low, Vol. 2 is entitled "Camillus and the Gauls," by Irving R. Wiles. Vol. 3, "Launcelot and Guinevere," by Helen Maitland Armstrong; Vol. 4, "Trial Scene 'Merchant of Venice,'" by E. B. Child; Vol. 5, "Captain Kidd and His Treasure," by Helen Maitland Armstrong; Vol. 6, "The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan," by A. Castalgne: Vol 7, "The Awakening of Abou Hassan," by Henry Sandham; Vol 8, "The Cid's Stratagem," by Helen Maitland Armstrong; Vol. 9, "Feast of Ivan the Terrible,"by unknown; and Vol. 10, "Atahualpa's Ransom,"by Helen Maitland Armstrong.

The Volumes contain the following subjects: Vol 1. Chaldea, Babylonia, Assyria, Persia, Egypt, Phonecia, Palestine, Arabta. Vol 2. India, China, Japan, Central and Southeastern Asia, Greece. Vol 3. Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Turkish Empire. Vol 4. France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Vol 5. Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia. Vol 6. Great Britain and Ireland, Africa, Austala, the Hawaiian Islands. Vol 7. South America, Central America, West India Islands, Mexico, Canada. Vol 8. Pacific United States, Rocky Mountain States, midcontinental States. Vol 9. Southern States, central lake States. Vol 10. New England States, middle Atlantic States.

"Hubert Howe Bncroft was a historian of the American West who collected and published 39 volumes on the history and peoples of western North America. His work remains one of the great sources of information on the West."

HBS 69567.

$5,000.