1890 Hilt to Hilt John Esten Cooke Civil War Shenandoah Dillingham Antique

About this book

Hilt to Hilt: From the MSS. of Colonel Surrey of Eagle’s Nest

By John Esten Cooke

G. W. Dillingham, New York, 1890

1890 Dillingham edition

Decorative cloth hardcover

270 pages

An antique Civil War novel set in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley during the autumn of 1864. The story follows cavalry raids, night marches, military conflict, and personal danger during the final part of the war.

John Esten Cooke was a Virginia novelist and Civil War veteran. He served as a staff officer for Confederate cavalry commander J. E. B. Stuart. His war experience helped shape his Virginia and Civil War fiction.

This 1890 edition was published by G. W. Dillingham, successor to the original publisher, G. W. Carleton & Co. An early gift inscription reads “Lizzie from Sterling, Xmas 1891.”

Best fit for collectors of Civil War fiction, Virginia history, Confederate literature, Shenandoah Valley history, and nineteenth-century American books.

Major hook: Scarce 1890 Dillingham edition with an 1891 gift inscription and decorative cloth binding.

Condition: Acceptable antique condition. No dust jacket. Brown cloth covers show heavy rubbing, fading, marks, soiling, edge wear, and worn corners. The spine lettering and decoration have heavy gilt loss. The spine ends are frayed and worn, with cloth loss at the head of the spine. Page edges are heavily age-toned and soiled. Interior pages show age toning, scattered spots, and normal handling wear. An early gift inscription dated Christmas 1891 appears on a front blank page. See photos for full condition details.