Desirable original 1860 campaign biography booklet by John Locke Scripps, entitled "Tribune Tracts—No. 6: Life of Abraham Lincoln," 5.75 x 8.75, 32 pages, featuring a simple stitched binding and without wrappers (as issued). Stamped at the head, "Geo. P. Hambrecht," attributing it to the collection of well-known Lincolniana collector George Philip Hambrecht of Madison, Wisconsin.
The foot of the front page has the 1860 copyright notice of Horace Greeley & Co., and the lower half of the last page features advertisements for the New York Tribune. Also, the right column of the text on the upper half on page 32, the sixth line from the bottom has the last word "wil" with the "I" in "will" lifted to the line above ending with the word "thel" rather than the word "the." This is characteristic of the first edition of this New York edition prior to it being corrected in later editions. In fine condition, with trivial edge dampstaining.
John Locke Scripps was editor of the Chicago Press and Tribune. When Lincoln was nominated for president by the Republican Party in Chicago at the Wigwam on May 18, 1860, Scripps immediately contacted Lincoln and began writing his biography, publishing it as early as July 15, 1860. In preparation, Scripps used autobiographical material Lincoln had sent out to publishers, and also corresponded with Lincoln in June and July prior to publication.
Bibliographer Wright Howes declared Scripps' Life of Lincoln as 'the most authentic' of Lincoln's campaign biographies.
