PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION COPY FROM THE LIBRARY OF PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD, WITH HIS BOOKPLATE

(GARFIELD, James) (WELLS, David A.). Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, Transmitting Report of the Special Commissioner of the Revenue. Washington: Treasury Department, January, 1868. Octavo, original green cloth. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $2200.

House of Representatives printing of this report of the Special Commissioner of the Revenue for 1868, a presentation/association copy inscribed by the Special Commissioner on the front free endpaper, “With respects of David A. Wells,” and from the library of James A. Garfield, Representative from Ohio and 20th President of the United States, with his bookplate. Additionally twice signed by Garfield’s son, who also went into politics, James Rudolph Garfield.

“Although in 1868 Garfield supported the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, he felt increasingly uncomfortable in the role of firebrand. His interests shifted to matters of financial policy. He advocated lower tariffs (except for items produced in his district) and was an avid crusader for hard money. He worked tenaciously for these policies on the House Ways and Means Committee and as chairman of the Appropriations Committee during the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses” (ANB). David Ames Wells served as Special Commissioner of the Revenue, issuing annual reports from 1866-69. Though he began as a protectionist, he came to espouse free trade, and became a leading abolitionist of tariffs. “He was a counselor of his close friend, President Garfield, on tariff matters, and later of Grover Cleveland” (DAB). James Rudolph Garfield served as Secretary of the Interior under Teddy Roosevelt, and was a member of the President’s so-called “tennis cabinet.”

Light rubbing to extremities. A near-fine association copy, with exceptional presidential provenance.