Americana
Rare Americana Books, Manuscripts & More for Sale Online
If you’re looking for first edition books celebrating the American experience, you’ve come to the right place. At Raptis Rare Books we maintain an extensive collection of rare Americana, books, manuscripts and more. Browse through our entire collection online, use our sorting tools or search to find exactly what you’re looking for then call with any questions you may have or order online today.
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Bust of Abraham Lincoln by famed artist George Bissell
[ABRAHAM LINCOLN] GEORGE BISSELL,.
Bust of Abraham Lincoln.
Patinated bronze cast of Abraham Lincoln by George Bissell, one of only three commissioned by Ralph Newman for THE USS AL. Boldly signed by the artist in the back Geo. E. Bissell Sc. George Bissell was an important American sculptor working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He produced two full length statues of Lincoln: one in Edinburgh and one in Clermont, Iowa. According to the letter from Lincoln College Curator Paul Beaver, the present item is one of three copies made from the school's original Bissell bronze bust of Lincoln by the Van Dyke Galleries of Chicago…
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 131044
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Bust of Abraham Lincoln by famed artist George Bissell; One of only three examples
[ABRAHAM LINCOLN] GEORGE BISSELL,.
Bust of Abraham Lincoln.
Patinated bronze portrait bust of Abraham Lincoln, marked "GEO. E. BISSELL Sc GORHAM CO. FOUNDERS copyrighted," and stamped "G 47." This is one of a series of popular desktop busts of Lincoln produced by the Gorham foundry in the early part of the 20th century. In fine condition. The piece measures 18 inches in height. An exceptional piece of American history.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 133797
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Rare 1976 Series Two Dollar Bill; signed by American Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the 200th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence
[ALDRIN, Buzz].
Buzz Aldrin Signed Two Dollar Bill.
Washington, D.C: United States Treasury, 1976.
Rare two dollar bill signed by American astronaut and the second man to land on the moon, Buzz Aldrin on the 200th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. Matted and framed, the entire piece measures 10.5 inches by 5.75 inches. In near fine condition.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 117394
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Rules and Regulations for Day and Night Police of the City of New York; signed three times by the 67th Mayor of New York City Andrew Hutchins Mickle
[ANDREW HUTCHINS MICKLE],.
Rules and Regulations for Day and Night Police of the City of New York; with Instructions as to The Legal Powers and Duties of Policemen.
New-York: Printed by Casper C. Childs, 1846.
Second edition of the first City Police handbook published in the United States. 16 mo, bound in full contemporary sheep stamped in blind, index. Signed by the 67th Mayor of New York City Andrew Hutchins Mickle twice on his mayoral dedication page and additionally on the pastedown of the rear panel. Andrew Hutchins Mickle served as the 67th Mayor of New York City from 1846 to 1847. A Democrat affiliated with the Tammany Hall organization, in 1845 he won election as Mayor of New York City, taking advantage of a four-way race to win with a plurality. After serving one…
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 143014
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Rare Blume High School Class of 1947 yearbook; signed by Neil Armstrong as a graduating senior
[ARMSTRONG, Neil].
Neil Armstrong Class of 1947 Signed Yearbook.
Wapakoneta, Ohio: Blume High School Class of 1947, 1947.
Rare Blume High School Class of 1947 yearbook, signed by Neil Armstrong as a graduating senior. Quarto, original leatherette. Signed by Neil Armstrong beneath his senior portrait on page 12 of the yearbook. Armstrong is also featured in a number of additional photographs throughout the book: on page 44 as a Band Officer, page 52 as a member of the Senior Hi-Y group, and on page 57 as a member of the School Council. In near fine condition. A rare piece offering a unique first-hand glimpse into the early scholastic achievements of the first man to set foot on the…
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 122684
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Fine collection of autograph letters and cards signed by a number of prominent 19th and 20th century American clergymen including Henry Ward Beecher, Henry van Dyke, Charles Spurgeon, and Dwight L. Moody
[BEECHER, Henry Ward; Newman Hall; Dwight L. Moody; Charles Spurgeon; Henry van Dyke; et al].
19th and 20th Century American Clergymen Autograph and Signed Letter Collection.
Extensive collection of over forty cards and letters signed by a number of prominent 19th and 20th century American Clergymen including Henry Ward Beecher, Henry van Dyke, Charles Spurgeon, and Dwight L. Moody. The collection includes: an autograph letter dated January 25 1866 signed by Henry War Beecher; four typed letters and on autograph letter signed by Henry van Dyke between October and November 1912; a card signed by Dwight L. Moody; a card dated November 14 1887 signed by William Taylor; a card dated March 6 1874 signed by Charles H. Parkhurst; a card signed by Russell Conwell dated…
Price: $5,000.00 Item Number: 126098
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"To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone": Scarce Amicus Brief issued for the historic 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education
[BROWN, Oliver].
In the Supreme Court of the United States October Term, 1952. Oliver Brown, Mrs. Richard Lawton, Mrs. Sadie Emmanuel v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.
New York: Bar Press Inc., 1952.
Scarce Amicus brief issued for the historic 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in American schools to be unconstitutional. Octavo, original wrappers, rebacked with a tape repair. Invery good condition. Scarce, OCLC locates only a single copy held by the Kansas State Historical Society.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 135377
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Rare Apollo 11 Earthrise Photograph; signed by Michael Collins
[COLLINS, Michael].
Michael Collins Signed Earthrise Photograph.
Original 'Earthrise' photograph taken from the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 Mission. Signed by Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, "'Earthrise' Michael Collins, Apollo XI, July 1969." In fine condition. The photograph measures 8 inches by 10 inches.
Price: $1,800.00 Item Number: 147282
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Rare Confederate States presidential election sample ballot heralding Jefferson Davis as President
[DAVIS, Jefferson].
Jefferson Davis Confederate States Electoral Ticket.
[1861].
Rare electoral ticket from the 1861 Confederate States presidential election. 16mo, one page, printed. The sample ballot heralds Jefferson Davis for President, Alexander Stephens for Vice President, a representative for the state at large and some local districts. In near fine condition. Ownership inscription to the verso.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 132575
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Capture of Jefferson Davis Collection
[DAVIS, Jefferson].
Capture of Jefferson Davis Collection.
Fine collection of pieces related to the capture of Jefferson Davis near Irwinville, Georgia on May 10, 1865. The collection includes an original carte-de-visite of Davis's captor, Colonel B.J. Pritchard; a calling card signed by Pritchard; a cabinet card of "The Only Photo in the Word of the Exact Spot where Hon. Jefferson Davis, President of Confederacy, was captured May 10th, 1865, by Fourth Michigan Cavalry, near Irwinville, Irwin county, Ga. Taken and copyrighted December 31st 1894, by J.H. Harris, Tifton, Berrien county, Ga."; a first edition of Edwin M. Stanton's Letter of the Secretary of War, Communicating, In compliance…
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 132583
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Rare Civil War Pocket Diary Kept by Assistant Surgeon Robert P. Davis, 84th Indiana Regiment
[DAVIS, Robert P.] .
Pocket Diary of Assistant Surgeon Robert P. Davis, 84th Indiana Regiment.
[1863].
The Civil War pocket diary of Assistant Surgeon Robert P. Davis, 84th Indiana Regiment. 16mo, original wrappers, the diary is printed with blank three days per page, entries have been recorded intermittently beginning on January 1, 1863 and include brief accounts of skirmishes at Resaca, Hooker's rescue of the Indiana Regiment and reports of duties and the diarist's own illness: May 27: “I am on duty at the Hospital handing instruments for amputation.” The next day: “At same duty as yesterday.” June 1: the sick and wounded are moved to a more permanent hospital and their field tents are moved…
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 132395
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Rare original program from the Christmas Party of the Oldsmobile Girls held on December 19th 1928; signed by legendary aviator Amelia Earhart
[EARHART, Amelia].
Amelia Earhart Signed Oldsmobile Girls Club Christmas Party Program.
[Lansing, Michigan]: [1928].
Rare original program from the holiday luncheon held for female employees of Olds Motor Works held on December 19th 1928, signed by legendary aviator Amelia Earhart. Octavo, bound in handmade tissue paper with a red ribbon, illustrated with a tipped in portrait of Amelia Earhart. Signed by Earhart in pencil beneath her portrait. In very good condition.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 142535
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Rare Scientific Pamphlet Collection compiled during President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1938 Smithsonian-sponsored scientific expedition to the Galapagos islands; six signed and inscribed by him
[FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT],.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Cruise Pamphlet Collection.
City of Washington: Published by the Smithsonian Institution, 1939-1942.
First editions of ten botanical and zoological pamphlets published as a result of collections and investigations made during Franklin D. Roosevelt's Presidential Cruise of 1938 to the Galapo, six being presentation copies inscribed and signed "FDR" on the front wrapper. Octavo, ten pamphlets, original brown printed paper wrappers, illustrated. Presentation copies, 6 pamphlets are signed and inscribed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 5 to his friend and long-time colleague in combating polio, Basil "Doc" O'Connor. The pamphlets include: Flowering Plants Collected on the Presidential Cruise of 1938 (Ellsworth P. Killip, May 27, 1939), inscribed. "R.T. McI From F.D.R."; Two New Gobioid…
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 123500
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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.…
Price: $175,000.00 Item Number: 138381
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Rare first edition of Charles Goepp's Kossuth and America; from the Library of Congress
[GOEPP, Charles].
E Pluribus Unum. A Political Tract on Kossuth and America.
Philadelphia: Published by F. W. Thomas, 1852.
Rare first edition of Goepp's criticism of Kossuth. Octavo, bound in full cloth. Deaccessioned from the Library of Congress with the library's bookplate and stamp to the pastedown. In good condition. Rare.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 131558
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rare First Worcester edition of The History of Little Goody Twoshoes
[GOLDSMITH, Oliver].
The History of Little Good Twoshoes; Otherwise Called Mrs. Margery Twoshoes.
Worcester, Massachusetts: Isaiah Thomas, 1787.
First Worcester edition of the famed fable. 16mo, original wrappers, illustrated with 8 engraved plates, terminal advertisements. In very good condition. From the library of noted collector and philanthropist Estelle Doheny with her bookplate to the folding chemise case. Housed in a custom full morocco and folding chemise case.
Price: $8,200.00 Item Number: 133024
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"A LANDMARK TREATY WHICH FORGED PERMANENT FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN, THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FORMATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS": RARE COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS related to the 1871 Treaty of Washington; signed by all of the key figures involved in its signing including President Ulysses S. Grant
[GRANT, Ulysses S.; Hamilton Fish; William Tecumseh Sherman; et al].
Ulysses S. Grant Treaty of Washington Signed Document Collection.
Rare collection of documents related to the 1871 Treaty of Washington including signatures of all of the key figures involved in its signing including President Ulysses S. Grant, his Secretary of State Hamilton Fish and the British delegation led by George Robinson, Earl de Grey and Ripon. The collection was assembled by Frederic Daustini Cremer who acted as secretary to de Grey and travelled with him and his son Viscount Goderich to Washington for the proceedings, where he also obtained letters by William Sherman amongst others for his collection and contains: Two lined folio pages containing the signatures of the British and American signatories…
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 143272
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First Edition of Hymns of the Ages: Second Series; from the library of Ulysses S. Grant
[GRANT, Ulysses S.].
Hymns of the Ages: Second Series. Being Selections From Wither, Crashaw, Southwell, Harington, and Other Sources.
Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1865.
First edition of the second series of Hymns of the Ages, from the library of Ulysses S. Grant. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece. From the library of Ulysses S. Grant with a presentation bookplate to the pastedown which reads, “Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, from the Citizens of Boston, January 1, 1866.” In very good condition. Rare and desirable.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 138284
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"THE MOST FAMOUS AND INFLUENTIAL AMERICAN POLITICAL WORK”: EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST EDITION OF THE FEDERALIST
[HAMILTON, Alexander; James Madison; John Jay].
The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787.
New York: Printed and Sold by J. and A. McLean, 1788.
First edition of The Federalist, one of the rarest and most significant books in American political history. 12mo, two volumes bound into one in half calf over marbled boards with raised bands, gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition with light toning to the pages. Text blocks trimmed. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell and chemise box. An exceptional example of this cornerstone of Americana.
Price: $250,000.00 Item Number: 143916
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"THE MOST FAMOUS AND INFLUENTIAL AMERICAN POLITICAL WORK”: EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST EDITION OF THE FEDERALIST
[HAMILTON, Alexander; James Madison; John Jay].
The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787.
New York: Printed and Sold by J. and A. McLean, 1788.
First edition of The Federalist, one of the rarest and most significant books in American political history. Octavo, two volumes bound in full calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, front and rear panels. In near fine condition with light foxing and minor marginal staining to end of Vol II. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example of this cornerstone of Americana.
Price: $260,000.00 Item Number: 145519
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[HAMILTON, Alexander].
The Speeches at Full Length of Mr. Van Ness, Mr. Caines, The Attorney-General, Mr. Harrison, and General Hamilton, in the Great Cause of the People, Against Harry Croswell, on an Indictment of Libel on Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States.
New York: Printed by G. & R. Waite, No. 64 Maiden-Lane, 1804.
First edition of this landmark case in the history of the First Amendment. Octavo, disbound. In very good condition. Rare with only a handful appearing in auction records.
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 142963
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Rare glass bust of the 23rd President of the United States Benjamin Harrison
[HARRISON, Benjamin].
Benjamin Harrison Glass Bust.
Rare frosted glass bust of the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison. Mounted on a hollow glass pedestal. In near fine condition. The bust measures 5.5 inches in height. The entire piece measures 16.5 inches in height.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 135664
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First edition of Henry N. Hudson's A Chaplain's Campaign with Gen. Butler
[HUDSON, Henry].
A Chaplain’s Campaign with Gen. Butler.
New-York: Printed For The Author, 1865.
First edition of Henry Hudson's account of his imprisonment after publishing his hostile criticism of Butler's military policy in the New York Evening Post. Octavo, modern cloth. Hudson served during the Civil War from 1862 to 1865 as chaplain of the 1st New York Volunteer Engineers, as well as war correspondent for the New York Evening Post. In very good condition.
Price: $175.00 Item Number: 139497
