About the Edition

“Three Miles from Providence: The Tale of Abraham Lincoln and the Soldiers’ Home” is a hand crafted, leather bound fictitious diary that was commissioned in 2008 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to commemorate the restoration of President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, DC.

The story follows the fictional Burdette family from 1861 at Lincoln’s inaugural and ends eight generations later in 2008. During the intervening 137 years, the reader learns what happens—and what doesn’t—at the Soldiers’ Cottage. Each generation is distinguished by a switch of font.

Written by David Bruce Smith.
Illustrations by artist Clarice Smith.

The book is hand-sewn and bound in top grain genuine cowhide leather by Rustico Leather of Orem, Utah. The leather cover is branded with the US Seal via laser engraving. A hand-sewn leather strap wraps around the book, giving it the appearance of a soldier’s satchel.

The leather used in this product is eco-friendly and was tanned using vegetable products. The leather is designed to obtain an individual patina from the book’s owner.

The bookbinder used a modified bookbinding technique to create a very durable book, with a spine that will never break.

Art Litho in Baltimore, MD printed the 5 sections – or signatures – of the book on Sundance Smooth Natural White paper. The recycled, hand-made end papers contain lavender, grass and flowers.

Dimensions: 9” x 6”

Limited to 1,000 editions.

All parts of the books are American made.