Updated on May 28, 2026: This has been sold.
Full title: George Washington by Shelby Little. Published in New York by Minton, Balch, and Company, 1929. 481 pp.
One hundred forty copies were produced, numbered, and signed by the author. Of those 140, 125 were offered for sale. Ours is number 47 of 140.
Here's the way the publisher described it when the book was released:
"An intimate revealing picture of a great figure that stands out clearly against the background of a young and vibrant America. Written with a view to removing some of the legends, mis-applied stories, apocryphal nonsense that had grown up around Washington. Renowned author Shelby Little expertly describes the man and his actions through the greatest era of American history aiming for a true and unvarnished picture."
Our copy was given as a gift from Henry A. Taylor, who was an architect who partnered with Harry V. Korner and John J. Wood, founders of the famous downtown Cleveland bookstore, Korner & Wood. Our volume includes his note along with an inscription to Kevin Gallagher (?) dated December 21, 1931. More details on Taylor and Korner & Wood are below.
Shipping: $15. Please allow one week for shipping.
Additional historical background
The Korner & Wood Co. from The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History from Case Western Reserve:
KORNER & WOOD was one of Cleveland's notable bookstores. An institution in downtown Cleveland, it served as a gathering point for local writers and artists. The store was founded in 1900 at 157 Euclid Ave., near PUBLIC SQUARE, by Harry V. Korner (2 Jan. 1875-20 Oct. 1958) and A. Vinson. Named Vinson & Korner and located at 150 Euclid Ave., the store moved the following year into the Barstow Bldg., 735-737 Euclid Ave., where it remained until 1924. Vinson left the store in 1904; John J. Wood joined Korner in partnership in 1905 but left in 1912. Left with the store and its corporate name, Korner & Wood, Korner was considered the dean of local booksellers. Though modern and progressive, with the latest avant-garde works, the bookstore maintained a charming character and provided individual attention to its customers. Korner had photographs as well as books lining the walls of his 1512 Euclid Ave. store. Houdini and Blackstone visited the store. Sinclair Lewis stopped whenever he was in town, and Elbert Hubbard, founder of the Roycrafters, sold his volumes at Korner & Wood. Korner's son, Harrison K. Korner, took over the family business when his father retired, taking in Ernest F. Crummel as a partner. A small fire in 1959 and a $5,000 theft in 1962 dampened Korner's enthusiasm. He later announced that the downtown store would be closing because of a decline in sales. Following the closing of the downtown store in 1963, Korner still operated branches in Mayfield, Cedar-Fairmount, Cedar-Warrensville, Southland Plaza, and Kamm's Plaza until 1965.
From Google:
Henry A. Taylor was an architect who partnered with Harry V. Korner and John J. Wood—founders of the famous downtown Cleveland bookstore, Korner & Wood. Taylor designed the 1924 storefront for the bookstore, which relocated to the historic Playhouse Square district where it operated until 1965. A well-known figure in the region's architecture scene, Taylor was also heavily involved in major construction in Florida, famously serving as the architect for the renowned Vinoy Park Hotel in St. Petersburg.
