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[Three reports from the Congressional joint committee that managed the purchase of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library following the burning of the Library of Congress by the British during the War of 1812.]

Report of the Joint Committee, on the Library of Congress. October 7, 1814 [with] Report of the Joint Committee, Authorized to Contract for the Library of Mr. Jefferson, Late President of the United States. November 28, 1814 [with] Report of the Library Committee on the Expediency of Providing a Library Room, and for Transporting the Library Lately Purchased of Thomas Jefferson, Esq. to the City of Washington. February 20, 1815. Washington City: Printed by Roger C. Weightman, 1814 and 1815, respectively. All 8vo (8.25” x 5”), disbound. Title leaf, [1] p. Housed in tan linen clamshell box, with black leather and gilt title piece at spine. CONDITION: All very good, light to moderate foxing; .75” dampstain at lower-left corner of the 1815 report.

A scarce gathering of three official Senate reports published following the destruction of the Congressional Library during the burning of Washington, pertaining to the purchase of former president Thomas Jefferson’s personal book collection.

On August 24th, 1814, British troops took control of the capital city, setting fire to both the White House and the Capitol Building, and destroying the 3,000-volume library of congress. After barely more than a day, the troops left the city for Baltimore. Appalled by this “Vandalism of our enemy” (“1815 Sale”), Thomas Jefferson offered his own library—which, at over 6,000 volumes, was the largest personal collection of books in the young nation—for immediate sale to Congress. Employing Samuel Harrison Smith, the federal Commissioner of Revenue and Jefferson’s longtime friend, to make his offer, and Georgetown bookseller Joseph Milligan to perform an independent valuation (based on the size and number of pages of the books), Jefferson then spent weeks compiling an up-to-date catalog of his collection, tracking down errant volumes, and arranging the library himself on shelves built specially for shipping. In April of 1815, the collection made the journey by cart from Monticello to Washington, where it was received by George Watterson, the newly-appointed Librarian of Congress.

The reports offered here reflect the progress in Congress of this extraordinary sale. The earliest, dated October 7th, announces that the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress has received Jefferson’s offer, and seeks Congressional approval for funds to make the purchase. The report dated November 28th notes the size of the library (“stated to be six thousand four hundred and eighty-seven [volumes]”) and its “estimated price” (“twenty-three thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars”). Finally, the February 20th, 1815 report requests a designated room for the new library, and a final financial infusion for the books’ transport to the Capitol. On Christmas eve of 1851, fire would again burst out, destroying nearly two thirds of Jefferson’s collection.

All reports scarce in the trade. No copies of the October 7 Report of the Joint Committee in Rare Book Hub, and only two of the November 28, 1814 Report of the Joint Committee, Authorized to Contract for the Library of Mr. Jefferson and the February 20, 1815 Report of the Library Committee on the Expediency of Providing a Library Room.

Scarce and important records of a remarkable book deal between former president Thomas Jefferson and the U.S. Congress, in the wake of one of the darkest hours in the history of the nation.

REFERENCES: “1815 Sale” at Thomas Jefferson’s Libraries online; “Thomas Jefferson : Jefferson’s Library” at Library of Congress online.

Item #10117

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Price: $4,500.00

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