The Rise Of The Dutch Republic 3-Volume Set, 1st Ed 1855, Motley - Peasley Library

James C. Peasley (James Carr Peasley) was a prominent banker and railroad executive in Chicago, Illinois, during the late 19th century. Railroad Executive and he served as the First Vice President of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company (CB&Q). He was a member of the Board of Directors for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago Records indicate he was a bank note signer and served as an officer at the National State Bank. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, with which he was affiliated, has extensive historical records documenting financial and legal matters, construction, and personnel from that era. James Carr Peasley was widely recognized for possessing one of the finest personal libraries in Chicago.

His library was frequently cited in local records, such as the Chicago Tribune, as one of the most significant private collections in the city. The name "J. C. Peasley" appears at the bottom of the spine because it was a custom owner's stamp used to identify volumes from his private collection.

The stamp means James C. Peasley didn't just buy the book; he commissioned a bookbinder to strip the original paper covers and create a custom leather or cloth binding specifically for his personal collection. A spine stamp indicates Peasley followed this tradition of high-end customization.

The Rise of the Dutch Republic: A History is a landmark three-volume 1855 work by American historian John Lothrop Motley. Covering the 16th-century revolt against Spanish rule, it was acclaimed for its detailed research, covering figures like William the Silent until 1584.

Red leather with marbleized boards and end-wraps, gilt top margin. Volumes 1 to 3. Published Harper & Brothers, New York, 1855. The books with J. C. Peasley's personal spine stamp is considered a high-value collector's set. While the first major public edition was published in 1856, this is a rare 1855 edition.

Dimensions: 6 1/4" x 9 1/4" x 1 3/4"

Condition: Heavy wear to spines, bumped corners, soiling to boards, light browning to pages, volume 1 with creases to edges, inscriptions to title pages, loss to top and bottom spines, bindings are strong, books are square.