Bidspirit auction | Michael, W. H. Official Congressional

Michael, W. H. Official Congressional Directory for the Use of the United States Congress. Government Printing Office, 1888. Second Edition. - This octavo volume is bound in the publisher's original bright red pebbled cloth with a blind-stamped border and gilt-stamped lettering on the front cover. The work is the Official Congressional Directory for the first session of the 50th Congress, compiled by W. H. Michael, Clerk of Printing Records. It is stated as the Second Edition, corrected to January 15, 1888. The interior features an engraved frontispiece depicting the United States Capitol and a detailed folding Map of the City of Washington with red reference markers indicating various government buildings. The book also includes a schematic seating diagram of the Senate chamber and a directory of the press gallery listing papers represented and reporter residences. A handwritten pencil inscription on a front flyleaf reads, Compliments of Jas. Hickcox. The text provides comprehensive biographical sketches of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, organized by state and district, along with administrative rosters for executive departments and the diplomatic corps. The cloth binding shows light wear at the extremities, with minor rubbing to the corners and tiny chips at the head and tail of the spine. The gilt lettering on the front cover remains bright and well-defined. Internally, the pages exhibit light uniform toning and scattered foxing, primarily to the preliminary and concluding leaves. The folding map is intact and in good condition with minor handling creases at the folds. The hinges are firm and the text block is secure.