Title:
Mary Lincoln Owned & Signed 1860 Volume IV – Life of George Washington by Washington Irving – From Lincoln Family Library

Description:
Original 1860 edition of The Life of George Washington, Volume IV of Washington Irving’s celebrated five-part biography, boldly signed and dated by Mary Lincoln—“Mary Lincoln / 1860”—on the front flyleaf. This volume originates from the Lincoln family library and was part of the renowned Louise & Barry Taper Collection, formerly held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

Bound in full brown leather with ornate gilt tooling to the spine and contrasting black and green title labels, the book features marbled endpapers and retains excellent structural integrity. The flyleaf bearing Mary Lincoln’s ownership signature is clean and crisp, with her handwriting in strong, period ink. The volume measures approximately 5" x 7.5" x 1.25", with some rubbing to the board edges and spine consistent with mid-19th century library usage.

Ex. Lincoln Family Library, with Mary Lincoln's ownership signature; Louise & Barry Taper Collection at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. 

Historical Context:
This signed volume holds profound symbolic value, dating to 1860, the year Abraham Lincoln campaigned for and was elected President of the United States. On February 27, 1860, Lincoln delivered his now-legendary Cooper Union Address in New York City—an event that transformed him from a regional figure into a national political force. During the address, Lincoln quoted directly from George Washington’s Farewell Address, referencing it as moral and constitutional support for the Republican platform against the expansion of slavery.

The quote—taken from Volume V of Irving’s Life of Washington—reads:

“Some of you delight to flaunt in our faces the warning against sectional parties given by Washington in his Farewell Address.”

While the present volume is Volume IV, it belongs to the same definitive five-volume biography by Irving, first completed in 1859. Its presence in the Lincoln household, personally signed and dated by Mary, confirms the family’s deep engagement with Washington’s legacy at a moment when Abraham Lincoln was about to assume the role of national unifier in a time of crisis.

This symbolic connection deepened after Lincoln’s election. In March 1861, Mary Lincoln was invited by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association for a private visit to Washington’s estate. Just weeks later, with Virginia’s secession following the attack on Fort Sumter, Mount Vernon fell behind Confederate lines—complicating plans for a presidential visit. Although Abraham Lincoln later sailed past the estate, he never disembarked due to security concerns.

On July 26, 1862, Mary wrote to Commissioner Benjamin Brown French detailing her purchase of $250 in books for the White House Library. Among them were new editions of Shakespeare and Walter Scott’s Waverley, as well as a history of George Washington personally selected and paid for by the President himself. While that later acquisition was not Irving’s set, it confirms the Lincoln family's continued effort to cultivate a presidential library anchored in the nation’s founding values.

Market Comparison:
In August 2025, University Archives sold a comparable Mary Lincoln signed volume from the same series for $11,250, including buyer’s premium—demonstrating strong collector demand for Lincoln family-owned books with presidential-era dating and clear provenance.

Authentication & Encapsulation:

• Signed by: Mary Lincoln

• Date of Signature: 1860

• Item Type: Leather-bound book, Life of George Washington, Vol. IV by Washington Irving

• Provenance: Louise & Barry Taper Collection; Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
This Volume IV of Washington Irving’s Life of George Washington, signed and dated by Mary Lincoln in 1860, offers a direct, tangible connection between the nation’s founding president and the man who would soon be called to preserve the Union. With elite provenance, a crisp period signature, and direct ties to Abraham Lincoln’s pivotal campaign year and the Cooper Union Address, this volume is a uniquely powerful relic of American history and presidential legacy.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.