Fifteen Letters of Nathalie Sumter (signed, limited edition)
Columba, SC: for Gittman's Book Shop by The R.L. Bryan Company, 1942. Limited ed. Hardcover. One of 500 copies only , 450 of which were for sale, (this being No. 147), signed by Virinia Saunders Smith. Large octavo in light blue paper covered boards over navy blue cloth, printed spine label. Issued without dust jacket. 124 pp. Illustrated with full page plates. A tight, near fine example with some toning about the outer edges of the boards, previous ownership signature dated 1943 on front free endpaper. Nathalie de Delage Sumter was born in Paris in 1782. Her family fled the Frence Revolution, arriving first in New York, where she became friends with Theodosia, the daughter of Aaron Burr. She returned home to France in 1802 in the party of the newly appointed U.S. Minister to France Robert Livinston. On board she met Thomas Sumter, son of the Revolutionary War general, whom she married shortly after arriving in Paris. The couple, along with their infant daughter, returned ot the United States in 1804 and settled in Charleston. Nathalie died in 1841 and the house stood until 1846. The letters presented here were among the few personal items salvaged. Five concern an 1809 visit to Washington, six were written from the United States Legation in Rio de Janiero, one from Charleston in 1823, and the remaining four from Paris. Near Fine. Item #E20552
Price: $80.00