The Federalist, on the New Constitution; Written in the Year 1788, by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Madison, and Mr. Jay: with an Appendix, Containing the Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius, on the Proclamation of Neutrality of 1795; Also, the Original Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States with the Amendments Made Thereto.

HAMILTON, Alexander; James Madison.

Item Number: 106184

City of Washington: Printed and Published by Jacob Gideon, 1818.

The Gideon edition of the Federalist Papers, the “most famous and influential American political work”, containing the 85 essays and articles written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay originally published in New York newspapers under the pseudonym “Publius” to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution and the first to assign the authors’ names to each individual essay. Additionally the first edition to contain “numbers written by Mr. Madison corrected by himself” (Howes, H114; Sabin, 23981). Octavo, bound in full period tree calf with gilt ruling to the spine and a black morocco spine label lettered in gilt. In very good condition, endpaper clipped. From the library of Christian Eby and later Christian Eby, Jr., a prominent member of the Mennonite community of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, with both’s ownership signatures. A very nice example of this important work. Uncommon.

"These 85 essays were designed as political propaganda, not as a treatise of political philosophy. In spite of this The Federalist survives as one of the new nation’s most important contributions to the theory of government” (PMM 234). “It is the most important work in political science that has ever been written, or is likely ever to be written, in the United States. It is, indeed, the one product of the American mind that is rightly counted among the classics of political theory” (Clinton Rossiter). This landmark Gideon edition, named for the publisher and authorized by Madison, is the second single-volume edition (the fifth overall), with an added appendix not included in the 1817 fourth edition. Of special importance is Gideon’s introduction, where he cites Madison’s notes disputing Hamilton’s claim of authorship for various numbers. Hamilton’s bibliographer, however, maintains that “Mr. Madison claims the authorship, in this edition, of Nos. 18, 19, and 20, which Hamilton had given as their joint work; and 49 to 58, 62 and 63, which Mr. Hamilton had claimed for himself” (Ford, 25). Though impossible to give certain authorship to either, “most scholars now agree that Madison, the more meticulous note-taker and record keeper, was correct on all counts” in his corrections, changes and attributions of authorship (Ball, Federalist). Shaw & Shoemaker 44017. Sabin 23985. See Howes H114.