By Debbie Jackson
Washington, D.C.
October 9, 2024
Many, if not most, may already be familiar with one of the longest-operating Lincoln antiquarian bookshops in the country. The offerings at that Chicago institution were thrust into the limelight in August. That’s when Daniel Weinberg, owner and president of the Book Shop, showcased some unique items in light of the Democratic Convention held in Chicago in July. (In the above photo, Debbie Jackson with Daniel Weinberg at the Book Shop.)
Several items on display were actually inside the 1860 Republican convention in the Wigwam, where Lincoln barely won the presidential nomination. As Weinberg noted, “These are silent witnesses to one of the most historical events in American and Chicago history.”
Items and artifacts have a special place in the hearts of collectors. But every day people can find themselves lured into purchasing and collecting mementos as well. Why? Each piece is a testament and reflection of history. And who doesn’t appreciate that history is being made every day?
The term antiquarian refers to older, unique artifacts. That’s what I experienced when I visited the Book Shop in September. There were rows of books for sale, of course, but pictures on the wall and artifact displays made it clear that the offerings went far beyond those of a typical bookstore. Walking along the various sculptures displayed in a corner, I was immersed in an abundance of the 16th President! (See the photo above)
Artifacts take you back in time and space. Among the paintings was a “tousled hair” Lincoln image distributed in the Wigwam and introducing a young, fresh potential candidate, an image that contrasts with the weathered visage of Lincoln during later turbulent years. (See photo to the right.)
On the back of an ordinary business card advertising sundry clothing items was a handwritten tally of the various presidential contenders and the number of votes they secured for each round. What started as a small tally, and likely loss, for Lincoln kept increasing as more votes were siphoned from other contenders and transferred to him; a final crescendo resulted in a rather unexpected win. The context comes alive in an exciting, moment-by-moment experience, one with so much more impact than experienced if just reading about what happened in a history book. That’s what artifacts do.
New acquisitions pop up all the time at the Book Shop. Podcasts and program updates are available online. Daniel Weinberg created the Virtual Book Signing in 2005; that site became, in time, A House Divided. The popular series of over 100 titles features interviews covering subjects about Lincoln and the U.S. Civil War as well as presidential and military history. (See A House Divided Previous Shows | Abraham Lincoln Book Shop Inc and alincolnbookshop.com)
The interviewees include such notables as Jonathan White, Ken Burns, Steve Inskeep, and Harold Holzer. Lincoln Group Study Forum members will be particularly interested in David Kent’s interview on Lincoln: The Fire of Genius and Edward Achorn’s on The Lincoln Miracle because they are reading Kent’s book now and Achorn’s starting January 2025.
The Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, described by some as “Disneyland for history buffs,” is a treasure trove filled with rare books, autographs, manuscripts, works of art, and more, all related to the Civil War and U.S. presidents. Established in 1938, the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop has persevered through tough financial markets, several relocations, and even the pandemic by offering authentic materials enticing to collectors, scholars, and casual history enthusiasts alike.
It’s worth securing an appointment to visit and experience contextual history by way of collectible materials.
(Photos by Bill Lammers)
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