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.

[VAN BUREN, John].

$1,500.00

Item Number: 134298

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.

In addition to serving as a key advisor to his father, President Martin Van Buren. John Van Buren served as New York's attorney general from 1845 to 1847, and was the chief prosecutor of the leaders of the Anti-Rent War. Van Buren later practiced law in New York City, where he developed a reputation as an effective trial attorney, with his memory for details and oratorical skills making him a formidable courtroom advocate. In 1848, Van Buren led the Barnburners—New York Democrats opposed to the election of Lewis Cass as president on the grounds that he was too friendly to the slaveholding South. Van Buren persuaded his father to run as the candidate of the Barnburners and the Free Soil Party in order to defeat Cass; Martin Van Buren won enough votes in New York to enable Zachary Taylor to defeat Cass and win the presidency.