Americana

Mifflin, Thomas; Thomas McKean; William Findley; Joseph Hiester; et al

Collection of 28 Autographs of the First Governors of Pennsylvania.

c. 1798-1908.

Rare collection of printed and manuscript documents, signed by the first 28 (of 29) Governors of Pennsylvania, being a near continuous representation of the office from its establishment in 1790 with the first Governorship of Thomas Mifflin, up until the 1930s with the 29th Governorship of Gifford Pinchot. Quarto, each document is tipped in to a paperContinue reading "Collection of 28 Autographs of the First Governors of Pennsylvania."

[Society of the Cincinnati]

Proceedings of the General Society of the Cincinnati [with] Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati, Formed by the Officers of the American Army of the Revolution, 1783.

New York : Printed for the Society by Douglas Taylor, 1886/ Philadelphia: Review Printing House, 1887.

First editions of two official publications of the Society of the Cincinnati, a valuable resource on the Revolutionary institution. Quarto, two volumes uniformly bound in three quarter contemporary morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers. The two-volume collectionContinue reading "Proceedings of the General Society of the Cincinnati [with] Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati, Formed by the Officers of the American Army of the Revolution, 1783."

Truman, Harry S

Dewey Defeats Truman Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper.

1948.

Signed Chicago Daily Tribune with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman”, signed by both Truman and Dewey as follows, “Truman hasn’t found it out, Harry S. Truman” and “Thomas E. Dewey.” It was an incorrect banner headline on the front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune on November 3, 1948, the day after incumbent United States President, Harry S. Truman,Continue reading "Dewey Defeats Truman Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper."

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

Boston : John P. Jewett & Company. Cleveland: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852.

First edition, first issue of Stowe’s classic American novel, widely considered the book that precipitated the American Civil War. Octavo, two volumes in the original publisher’s cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles and vignettes to the front panels, illustrated with title vignettes and six wood-engravings. BAL’s binding B (no priority). Portrait of Stowe tippedContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."

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, first issue of the historian’s detailed account of the African slave trade. First issue with with page 191 misprinted as 19. Octavo, recased with the original publisher’s cloth laid down, additional vignette title. In very good condition, hinges reinforced and rebacked.

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.

.

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."