Andrew Carnegie

Privately published First Edition Hardcover of industrialist Andrew Carnegie’s travel memoir Around the World. With a pencil presentation inscription in Carnegie’s own hand (not secretarial): “Mr. Baker, With compliments of The Author.” A finely printed diary of detailed notes taken by Andrew Carnegie during a trip around the world beginning in New York on October 12, 1878 and ending in Paris on May 1, 1879. Some scuffing on the spine and extremities, else very good in gilt-stamped maroon cloth boards without dust jacket.

Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur, and major philanthropist, regarded as one of the most famous leaders of industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Carnegie earned most of his fortune in the steel industry. In the 1870s, he founded the Carnegie Steel Company, a step that cemented his standing as a major industrialist. By the 1890s, the company was the largest and most profitable industrial enterprise in the world. Carnegie sold it to J.P. Morgan in 1901, who created U.S. Steel. Carnegie devoted the remainder of his life to large-scale philanthropy, with special emphasis on local libraries, world peace, education and scientific research. His life has often been referred to as a true “rags to riches” story.

Carnegie gave away most of his money to establish many libraries, schools, and universities in America, the United Kingdom and other countries, as well as a pension fund for former employees. He is often regarded as the second-richest man in history after John D. Rockefeller. Carnegie started as a telegrapher and by the 1860s had investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges and oil derricks. He built further wealth as a bond salesman raising money for American enterprise in Europe.

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