• Title: Tommy Hickup
• Author: Rosa Abbott
• Publisher: Lee & Sheppard
• Estimated year of printing: 1868

Notes: 

Inscription: “Frank W. Morse”

Of all the book in my collection, this is the one that I’ve been able to find the least information on.  It really seems to have been lost to the ages.  A few copies are for sale, but I couldn’t find any meaningful information on the book nor its author, Rosa Abbott.

Which is unusual, because she seemed just notable enough for this to be considered part of a series of books called “Rosa Abbott Stories”, published by Lee and Sheppard between 1867 and 1870.  This is the third book in the series, and eventually six would be published.  They all appear to be juvenile fiction, which aligns with the publisher, Lee and Shepard, which was known at this time for juvenile fiction (including books by Oliver Optic, which are better remembered and also part of my collection).  

Lee and Sheppard merged with the Lothrop Company in 1905 to become Lothrop, Lee and Shepard.

I did find the pervious owner, Frank W. Morse, in the 1940 census — he was born around 1864 and lived in Boston, Massachusetts, which lines up with this being a book he could have owned as a young boy.

Historical context:

When this book was printed in 1868, Andrew Johnson was President of the United States.  He had been Vice President under Abraham Lincoln, and became President when Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.  In 1868, Johnson became the first President to be impeached — being charged with violating the Tenure of Office Act by removing secretary of war without the Senate’s consent.  Johnson was acquitted by the Senate by just one vote, and so remained in office.