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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.

Showing items 200-220 of 580

McCain, John and Mark Salter

The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018.

First edition of this political memoir from Senator McCain, an American hero who reflects on his life and what matters most. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by John McCain on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jackie Seow. Rare and desirable signed as this memoir was published in MayContinue reading "The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-145522

Roosevelt, Theodore

The New Nationalism

New York : The Outlook Company, 1910.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Mr. J.E. Rhodes Theodore Roosevelt Jan 19th 1911.” In near fine condition. With an introduction by Ernest Hamlin Abbott.

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$6,000.00
Item Number: RRB-145785

Ward, Geoffrey C. and Ken Burns [Doris Kearns Goodwin]

Baseball: An Illustrated History.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1994.

First edition of this companion book to the classic documentary series. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated endpapers, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin on the title page. Kearns Goodwin served as a commentor in the series. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

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$550.00
Item Number: RRB-144374

Kennedy, John F

Profiles in Courage.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1956.

First edition of Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth, with eight pages of black-and-white photogravures. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jack design by Phil Grushkin. Jacket photograph by Hank Walker. Uncommon in this condition.

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$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-143898

[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 halfContinue reading "The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787."

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$250,000.00
Item Number: RRB-143916

[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.

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$1,750.00
Item Number: RRB-142963

Washington, George

George Washington Autograph Diary Leaf.

[Mount Vernon] March 1762.

Autograph manuscript, being George Washington’s diary entries for a portion of March 1762, detailing the fruit grafts that he has accomplished. 2 pages (5 14/16 x 3 10/16 inches, irregular) on a leaf of laid paper, [Mount Vernon], March 1762; browned, left margin of recto waterstained and abraded causing a loss of text in mostContinue reading "George Washington Autograph Diary Leaf."

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$250,000.00
Item Number: RRB-142654

[Watson, Elkanah] [George Washington]

Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American.

Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts : Isaiah Thomas, 1790.

First edition, presentation copy of a scarce volume from George Washington’s library at Mount Vernon. Octavo, bound in full contemporary sheep with pine gilt in six compartments within raised bands, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, type-ornament title-page vignette, head and tailpieces. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to George Washington on the frontContinue reading "Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American."

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$275,000.00
Item Number: RRB-143919

[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 asContinue reading "Ulysses S. Grant Treaty of Washington Signed Document Collection."

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$20,000.00
Item Number: RRB-143272

Audubon, John James

The Birds of America, From Drawings Made In The United States And Their Territories.

New York : Published by J. J. Audubon. Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844.

First octavo edition of Audubon’s landmark work; one of the most spectacular collections of ornithological prints ever produced. Royal octavo, 7 volumes bound in full 19th-century morocco by P. Low of Boston with their ticket, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "The Birds of America, From Drawings Made In The United States And Their Territories."

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$200,000.00
Item Number: RRB-143567

Shea, John Galmary

Early Voyages Up and Down the Mississippi, by Cavelier, Dt. Cosme, Le Sueur, Gravier, and Guignas.

Albany : Joel Munsell, 1861.

Limited edition of Shea’s important history of the early explorers of the Mississippi, printed for subscribers. Octavo, bound in half morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Bradford 4933; Field 1395; Sabin 80003. Provenance: from the library of American businessman James Phinney Baxter (1831-1921) of Portland, MaineContinue reading "Early Voyages Up and Down the Mississippi, by Cavelier, Dt. Cosme, Le Sueur, Gravier, and Guignas."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-143881

Franklin, Benjamin

Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates.

London : Printed for David Henry; and sold by Francis Newbery, at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1769.

First complete edition of “the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America” (PMM), inscribed by Benjamin Franklin to prominent Pennsylvania Quaker and merchant Thomas Livezey, Jr. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins. IllustratedContinue reading "Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates."

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$375,000.00
Item Number: RRB-147283

Whitman, Walt

Leaves of Grass.

Camden, New Jersey : Author's Edition [Walt Whitman], 1882.

The Author’s edition of the most important and influential volume of poetry written in America; one of probably fewer than 100 copies produced with the inclusion of the “sexual odes” at Whitman’s insistence. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with two full-page engraved portraits of Whitman at different ages. Boldly signed by Walt Whitman on theContinue reading "Leaves of Grass."

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$11,000.00
Item Number: RRB-143291

Rowson [Susanna Haswell]

Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth.

Hartford : Published by Silas Andrus, 1827.

Early American printing of the first American bestseller, first published in 1794. 16mo, half calf over wooden boards, gilt-lettered spine, woodcut frontispiece. In good condition, assuming boards were once paper-covered, the paper has since entirely perished; shallow loss along top edge of both covers, lacking rear endpaper, 20th century rubberstamp to front pastedown. Rare.

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$1,750.00
Item Number: RRB-142082

[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 servedContinue reading "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."

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$7,500.00
Item Number: RRB-143014

Kelly, Fred C.; Introduction by Orville Wright

The Wright Brothers.

New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1943.

First edition of this classic American biography authorized by Orville Wright and long considered the definitive Wright biography. Octavo, original blue cloth, illustrated with 16 pages of photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by Orville Wright in the year of publication on the half-title page, “To Edward with affectionate regards. Orville Wright May 4, 1943.” Near fineContinue reading "The Wright Brothers."

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$7,200.00
Item Number: RRB-142422

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

The Writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Cambridge : The Riverside Press, 1896.

The Large Paper Author’s Autograph edition of the writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Octavo, 16 volumes bound in three quarter crushed levant pigskin with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Signed by Harriet Beecher Stowe on the limitation page ‘Specially For ThisContinue reading "The Writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe."

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$7,500.00
Item Number: RRB-142393
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