Americana

Walter Browning; or, The Slave’s Protector. Founded on Fact.

Cincinnati : American Reform Tract and Book Store, 1856.

First edition of this anti-slavery tract. 12mo, original publisher’s cloth, yellow endpapers, engraved frontispiece. In very good condition. Ownership inscription. Uncommon.

Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization. [Harper’s Weekly’s Complete Coverage of the American Civil War: January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865].

New York : Harper & Brothers, January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865.

Rare continuous run of 260 issues of Harper’s Weekly, covering the entirety of the American Civil War. Folio, five volumes, bound in full buckram with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, illustrated with hundreds of wood-engraved illustrations, many from noted American illustrators including portraits of Union and Confederate Army Generals and Officers, battlefield scenes, maps, cityContinue reading "Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization. [Harper’s Weekly’s Complete Coverage of the American Civil War: January 1, 1861-December 30, 1865]."

Edwards, Jonathan

Two Dissertations, I. Concerning the End For Which God Created the World. II. The Nature of True Virtue.

Boston : S. Kneeland, 1765.

First edition of this important work by Edwards. Small octavo, bound in half calf over marbled boards, raised bands, morocco spine label. In very good condition. Rare.

Crane, Stephen. Irving Bacheller, Post Wheeler, John Langdon Heaton

The Lanthorn Book: Being a Small Collection of Tales and Verses Read at The Sign o’ the Lanthorn.

New York : 126 William Street, 1898.

Signed limited edition, this is number 47. Quarter, original half cloth. Signed by Stephen Crane at the conclusion of his contribution, The Wise Men. Also signed by the other contributors. While it was the intention of the club to have each contributor sign his piece, Crane did not sign all 125 examples, as he diedContinue reading "The Lanthorn Book: Being a Small Collection of Tales and Verses Read at The Sign o’ the Lanthorn."

Webster, Daniel

The Works of Daniel Webster.

Boston : Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851.

The subscriber’s edition of the works of Daniel Webster, signed by Webster in the first volume. Octavo, 6 volumes, bound in original cloth, frontispiece, and one other plate. In near fine condition.

Washington, George

George Washington Autograph Letter Signed.

January 24, 1790.

Rare autograph letter signed by George Washington as the first President of the United States. Quarto, one page, the letter reads in full, “New York Jany 24th 1790 Sir Capt. Burnett delivered me your letter of the 18th and is so obliging as to take charge of this answer – It is my sincere opinionContinue reading "George Washington Autograph Letter Signed."

Wilson, Woodrow

A History of the American People.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1918.

The Documentary edition of this classic work. Octavo, 10 volumes, three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, marble endpapers, contains numerous plates and illustrations. In very good condition.

Douglass, Frederick

Frederick Douglass Signed Property Deed.

Washington, D.C March 23, 1885.

Rare real estate document signed by famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass as Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C. One page, partially printed, the property deed agreement is signed by Douglass, “Fredk. Douglass” as Recorder of Deeds, certifying a deed transferring a plot of land in Washington, DC, from Joseph C.G. Kennedy to Thomas D. Bond. Following the Civil War, Douglass received numerousContinue reading "Frederick Douglass Signed Property Deed."

Lee, Robert E

Robert E. Lee Signed Carte-de-Visite.

Lexington, Va : Boude & Miley, [1869].

Rare Reconstruction era carte-de-visite portrait of former Confederate commander General Robert E. Lee in civilian attire, boldly signed “RE Lee.” The carte-de-visite measures 2.5 inches by 4 inches with Boude & Miley’s imprint on the verso. This striking postwar portrait of Lee was captured by photographer Michael Miley of Lexington, Virginia in 1869, perhaps lessContinue reading "Robert E. Lee Signed Carte-de-Visite."

King, Jr. Martin Luther. Editor's note by Ed Clayton

The SCLC Story in Words and Pictures.

Atlanta, Georgia : Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 1964.

First edition, first printing of The SCLC Story containing one of the first appearances in print of Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream Speech. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers as issued, illustrated with photographs including a full-page photograph of King, photographs of the officers, executive board, regional, and secretarial staffs of the SCLC. SignedContinue reading "The SCLC Story in Words and Pictures."

Adams, Henry [Editor].

Documents Relating to New-England Federalism. 1800-1815.

Boston : Little, Brown, and Company, 1877.

First edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian’s work on the rise of Federalism in 19th century New England. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the month of publication, “With the respects of Henry Adams For Mr. Corcoran’s birthday Dec. 1877.” The recipient, William Wilson Corcoran,Continue reading "Documents Relating to New-England Federalism. 1800-1815."

Lindbergh, Charles A

We.

New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1927.

First edition of Lindbergh’s definitive autobiography. Octavo, original pictorial cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket and glassine.

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. From the library of PT Boat Captain William J. (Wild Bill) Barrett, from Great Barrington, Massachusetts with his name and date 2/1/56 on the front endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jack design by PhilContinue reading "Profiles in Courage."

Hughes, Langston and Milton Meltzer

A Pictorial History of the Negro in America.

New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1956.

First edition of this important compilation on the history of African Americans. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Langston Hughes and Milton Meltzer on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Uncommon signed.

Mayer, Brantz

Captain Canot; or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver. Being an Account of the Career and Adventures on the Coast, in the Interior, on Shipboard, and in the West Indies.

New York : D. Appleton and Company, 1854.

First edition, early issue of the historian’s detailed account of the African slave trade without the misprint on page 191. Octavo, bound in contemporary calf, rebacked, additional vignette title. In very good condition, hinges reinforced.

Kennedy, John F

John F. Kennedy Unsmoked Cigar.

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Rare unopened cigar given to 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy by a Philippine Ambassador to the United States, handsomely presented with a portrait of Kennedy. The Coronas Alhambra cigar is mounted in a shadowbox opening and is still stored in a cellophane sheath printed in gold lettering: “Specially Made For President Kennedy.” Under itsContinue reading "John F. Kennedy Unsmoked Cigar."

King Jr., Martin Luther

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1958.

First edition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s first book. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

[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 YorkContinue reading "A Chaplain’s Campaign with Gen. Butler."

Brockett, L. P., MD, and Vaughn, Mary C

Woman’s Work in the Civil War: A Record of Heroism, Patriotism, and Patience.

Philadelphia : Zeigler, McCurdy, 1867.

First edition of this major early history of Civil War women, published only two years after the war’s end, with authoritative accounts of groundbreaking work by Clara Barton and over 80 field nurses. Thick octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 16 steel-engraved portraits and a contributing essay by Harriet Beecher Stowe. In near fine condition. AContinue reading "Woman’s Work in the Civil War: A Record of Heroism, Patriotism, and Patience."

Ludlam, Stephen [Wall Street]

Early American Wall Street Survey Map.

April 8, 1817.

Rare 1817 hand-colored copy of an original map of early 18th century Wall Street attached to a Deed of Partition between Col. Abraham de Peyster and Samuel Bayard dated January 3rd 1718, copied on April 8th 1817 by Stephen Ludlam, City Surveyor. One page, the hand-colored map details the intersection of Wall Street, Broad Street,Continue reading "Early American Wall Street Survey Map."

Truman, Harry S

The Economic Reports of the President: As Transmitted to the Congress January 1948, January 1947, July 1947.

New York : Reynal & Hitchcock, 1948.

First edition of this compilation of three of Truman’s most memorable economic reports. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author opposite the title page, “Most sincerely Harry Truman.” Introduction by President Truman’s Council of Economic Advisers. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is price-clipped and in very good condition. Housed in aContinue reading "The Economic Reports of the President: As Transmitted to the Congress January 1948, January 1947, July 1947."

Washington, George; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; William Henry Harrison; James Tyler; James H. Polk; James Buchanan; Zachary Taylor; Millard Fillmore; James Buchanan; Franklin Pierce; Abraham Lincoln; William Seward; Andrew Johnson; Ulysses S. Grant; James Garfield; Chester A. Arthur; Grover Cleveland; Benjamin Harrison; Grover Cleveland; William McKinley; Alexander Hamilton

Autograph Album of the Presidents and Cabinet Officials of the United States of America.

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Rare late 19th century folio album containing an extensive collection of Presidential autographs, letters, carte-de-visites, and portraits in addition to those of each Cabinet. Folio, bound in three quarter morocco with five raised bands and gilt titles to the spine. The album contains: a clipped signature of President George Washington with a four-page letter ofContinue reading "Autograph Album of the Presidents and Cabinet Officials of the United States of America."

Eisenhower, Dwight D

A History of the 90th Division in World War II: 6 June 1944 to 9 May 1945.

Baton Rouge, LA : Army & Navy Publishing Company, 1946.

First edition of this work on the 90th division in World II. Quarto, original leatherette boards, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by General Dwight Eisenhower on the title page, “To Skippe Sheppard Best wishes from Dwight D. Eisenhower.” The recipient, Captain Harlo John Sheppard was in the 712th Tank Division, with his name andContinue reading "A History of the 90th Division in World War II: 6 June 1944 to 9 May 1945."

Franklin, Benjamin

Mémoires de la Vie Privée de Benjamin Franklin, Écrits Par Lui-Même, et Adressés à Son Fils, Suivis d’un Précis Historique de Sa Vie Politique, et de Plusieurs Pièces, Relatives à Ce Père de la Liberté. [Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin].

Paris : Chez Buisson, Libraire, 1791.

True first edition of the first part of Franklin’s famed autobiography which preceded the first English edition by two years. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with a morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate period gilt tooling to the spine, ribbon bound in. In very good condition. A nice example.