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"Each generation in our history needs to be taught what the Constitution is, and what the framers of it understood it to be, at its formation": Rare first edition of George S. Williams' The Constitution of The United States For the Use of Schools and Academies
WILLIAMS, GEORGE S.
The Constitution of The United States. For the Use of Schools and Academies.
Cambridge: Welch, Bigelow, and Company 1861.
First edition of Williams’ Civil War era printing of the United States Constitution, intended for use in both public schools and private academies. Octavo, original cloth elaborately stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine, gilt American flag and eagle vignette to the front panel. In near fine condition with rubbing to the crown and foot of the spine. Includes The Constitution of the United States, Washington’s Farewell Address, The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation.
Price: $950.00 Item Number: 124073
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Rare first printing of the Second Acts of Congress; bound with an even more rare printing of the United States Constitution
Acts Passed at the Second Congress of the United States of America: Begun and Held at the City of Philadelphia, In the State of Pennsylvania, On Monday, The Twenty-Fourth of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-One: And o the Independence of the United States, the Sixteenth. [Bound With]: The Constitution of the United States of America; As Proposed by the Convention Held at Philadelphia, Sept. 17, 1787, and Since Ratified by the Several States.
Philadelphia: Printed by Francis Childs and Joseph Swaine, Printers to the United States; Printed by John Fenno 1791-c. 1793.
First printing of the Second Acts of Congress, bound with an even more rare printing of the Constitution. Octavo, original full calf, red morocco spine label lettered gilt. From the library of the first (and longest serving) Secretary of the United States Senate, Samuel Allyne Otis with his signature to the second page. Otis was a delegate from Massachusetts during the Second Continental Congress, and went on to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1784-85. He was elected to the position of Secretary on April 8, 1789, through political machinations orchestrated by John Adams, that saw front runner, Charles Thomson, ruefully sent out of town on the day of the vote. He memorably held the bible during Washington’s inauguration, and went to serve as Secretary for 25 years, until his death in 1814. Evans 26295. Bookplate from the Newburyport Athenaeum to the front pastedown. Rare with only a handful of other examples located by ESTC.
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 126804
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The Constitution of The United States; Inscribed by Daniel Boorstin to William Safire
BOORSTIN, DANIEL [WILLIAM SAFIRE].
United States Constitution.
Cambridge: Welch, Bigelow, and Company 1987.
First edition of the Constitution published for the bicentennial of its adoption in 1787. Octavo, original wrappers. Association copy, inscribed by Daniel Boorstin on the title page, “For Bill and Helene with love from Dan Sept 7, 1987.” The recipient, William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter and a close friend of the then Librarian of Congress Daniel Boorstin. Safire joined Nixon’s campaign for the 1960 Presidential race, and again in 1968. After Nixon’s 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriter for him and Spiro Agnew. He authored several political columns in addition to his weekly column “On Language” in The New York Times Magazine from 1979 until the month of his death and authored two books on grammar and linguistics: The New Language of Politics (1968) and what Zimmer called Safire’s “magnum opus,” Safire’s Political Dictionary. Safire later served as a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board from 1995 to 2004 and in 2006 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. Preface by Warren E. Burger. Introduction by Daniel Boorstin. Also, laid in is a signed letter to Helene Safire from Ruth Boorstin, on their personal letterhead. In near fine condition.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 127627
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John Van Buren's first edition copy of The Constitutions of the United States and State of New-York and Articles of Confederation; with his ownership signature
[VAN BUREN, JOHN].
The Constitutions of the United States and State of New-York and Articles of Confederation; Together with the Rules and Orders, Standing Committees, List of Members of the Senate and Assembly for 1831, List of Counties, &c. &c. &c.
Albany: Printed by Croswell and Can Benthuysen 1831.
John van Buren‘s first edition copy of this early American government handbook. 16 mo, bound in full morocco for Van Buren with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, illustrated with 3 folding plates and 3 folding maps including: a folding map of the City of Troy (with manuscript notes locating landmarks), folding floor plan of the assembly; small hand-colored folding map of the city of Albany, folding floor plan of the assembly [1831], small folding floor plan of the Senate chamber [1831], large hand-colored folding “Map of the State of New York and the Surrounding Country,” by David H. Burr, dated 1829. With John van Buren’s ownership signature to the pastedown, “John van Buren’s book.” In very good condition. A very uncommon title with noted provenance.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 134298
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First French Edition, Presentation copy of the Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America; inscribed by Benjamin Franklin who requested the book's publication and personally distributed the 600 privately printed first edition copies
[FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN].
Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America].
Paris: D. Pierres/Pissot, Pere & Fils, Libraries 1783.
First French edition of the Constitution of the United States of America, inscribed by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin who had the translation published and personally distributed each of the 600 copies produced. Octavo, bound in one quarter calf with gilt ruling to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed by Benjamin Franklin on the front free endpaper, “A Madame, Madame la Presidente de Manieres [sic] de la parte du. B. Franklin.” The recipient, Madame Durey de Meinires was a a French writer best known for her translations of Samuel Johnson, David Hume, and Sarah Fielding. On March 24th, 1783, Franklin wrote to the Comte de Vergennes, “I am desirous of printing a translation of the Constitutions of the United States of America, published at Philadelphia, by Order of Congress. Several of these Constitutions have already appeared in the English and American newspapers but there has never yet been a complete translation of them.” At Franklin’s suggestion, the Duc de La Rochefoucault produced the first French translation, and Franklin is believed to have contributed the fifty-plus footnotes. Franklin had 600 copies of Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis de l’Amerique privately printed by Philippe-Denis Pierres, first printer ordinary of Louis XVI, which were not made available for sale. Franklin distributed them himself, and was happy to fulfill the request of Madame Durey de Meinires, who wished to receive a copy. On August 31, 1783, Franklin sent a copy of the newly published volume to Madame Durey de Meinires, along with a letter, “I send with great Pleasure the Constitutions of America to my dear & much respected Neighbour, being happy to have any thing in my Power to give that she will do me the honour to accept, and that may be agreeable to her.” The inscribed page included in the present volume was previously sold as a loose flyleaf by Charles Hamilton in 1959, and it has since been professionally tipped into an edition of the book with which it was originally sent. The book contains the Constitutions of each of the thirteen States of America, the Declaration of Independence of the 4th of July 1776, the Friendship and Commerce Treaty, the Alliance Treaty between France and the United States, as well as the treaties between the United States and the Netherlands and Sweden. The title page contains the first appearance of imprint of the United States seal in a book. Franklin‘s grand gesture in publishing and distributing these constitutions‚ about which there was intense interest and curiosity among statesmen‚ was one of his chief achievements as a propagandist for the new American republic. In good condition.
Price: $175,000.00 Item Number: 138381
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The Declaration of Independence and Constitution; With the first appearance in book form of the 13th Amendment
Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States.
New York: R. Spalding 1865.
Rare first edition of this Civil War publication of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, which features the text of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, its first appearance in book form. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition. Rare and desirable with only a handful appearing at auction in the last 80 years.
Price: $5,000.00 Item Number: 117244
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“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union... do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America": Rare first edition of Vol. VII of the Journal of Congress; containing the first official Congressional Journal publication of the proposed Constitution of the United States
Journal of the United States In Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings From the Sixth Day of November, 1786, to the Fifth Day of November, 1787. Volume XII.
New York: Published by Order of Congress 1787.
Rare first edition of Vol. VII of the Journal of Congress; containing the first official Congressional Journal publication of the proposed Constitution of the United States. Octavo, original boards. Contains the first Congressional Journal publications of the proposed United States Constitution (pp. 149-166) and the Northwest Ordinance (pp. 85-93). In very good condition. Small loss to the title page affecting the “L” in “Journal”. A rare and important piece of American history.
Price: $75,000.00 Item Number: 129855
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First edition of Edward Augustus Gross and Homer Joseph Dodge's Manual For Women Voters; including The Constitution of the United States, The Declaration of Independence, The Monroe Doctrine, and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
GROSS, EDWARD AUGUSTUS AND HOMER JOSEPH DODGE.
Manual For Women Voters.
New York: Federal Trade Information Service 1922.
First edition of this introductory manual for newly enfranchised American women following the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 135244