Americana

[Washington, George]

A Funeral Oration in Honor of the Memory of George Washington. Late General of the Armies of the United States.

Philadelphia : Hall & Sellers, January 15, 1800.

Exceedingly rare first appearance in print of Washington’s Funeral Oration, featured on the front page of the Wednesday, January 15 1800 issue of the Pennsylvania Gazette. Folio, four pages, the headline reads, “A Funeral Oration in Honor of the Memory of George Washington. Late General of the Armies of the United States. Prepared and DeliveredContinue reading "A Funeral Oration in Honor of the Memory of George Washington. Late General of the Armies of the United States."

Adams, John Quincy

The Jubilee of the Constitution. A Discourse Delivered at the Request of the New York Historical Society, in the City of New York, on Tuesday, the 30th of April, 1789.

New York : Published by Samuel Colman, 1839.

First edition of John Quincy Adams’ powerful speech—“one of Adams’ best”—delivered at the request of the New York Historical Society on the 50th Anniversary of Washington’s Inauguration. Octavo, original wrappers, frontispiece and half-title. In very good condition.

Bentsen, Lloyd Millard [Jimmy Carter]

Lloyd Millard Bentsen Autograph Letter Archive.

1981-1985.

Rare archive of autograph letters, photographs, and commemorative stamp folios from the collection of former United States Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Millard Bentsen. The archive includes a photograph of Bentsen with Jimmy Carter, inscribed by Carter to him, “Thanks & best wishes to my good friend Lloyd Bentsen – Jimmy Carter 2-21-80”, two autographContinue reading "Lloyd Millard Bentsen Autograph Letter Archive."

Muir, John

John Muir Periodical Collection.

: Various Publishers, 1872-1977.

Rare collection of periodicals containing first and early appearances of articles by or about John Muir. Octavo, 20 volumes, original illustrated wrappers. The collection includes: The Overland Monthly. Volume 9, No. 6, Number 43 [John H. Carmany & Co., San Francisco, December 1872] which contains Muir’s “Living Glaciers of California”; The Overland Monthly. Volume 13,Continue reading "John Muir Periodical Collection."

Franklin, Dr. Benjamin

Chess Made Easy. New and Comprehensive Rules for Playing the Game of Chess.

Philadelphia : James Humphrey, 1802.

First edition of the earliest known book on chess printed in America. 32mo,bound in half leather over marbled boards, illustrated with engraved frontispiece. In very good condition with some rubbing to the extremities, frontispiece repaired, title-page repaired and dampstained. An exceptional rarity, with only one example appearing at auction in the last 75 years.

[George Washington]

George Washington Marble Bust.

.

Rare marble bust of George Washington depicted as general. The entire piece measures 12.5 inches by 10.5 inches.  

Muir, John

Travels in Alaska.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1915.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original grey cloth lettered in white, color illustrated paper cover label, top edge gilt. Illustrated with several plates from photographs, including frontispiece with tissue-guard. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket with a small chip to the front panel.

Fanning, David

The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning: (A Tory in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain): Giving an Account of His Adventures in North Carolina, From 1775 to 1783 as Written by Himself, with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes.

Richmond, VA : Printed for Private Distribution Only, 1861.

First edition of the first book printed in the Confederacy. Quarto, original stiff paper wrappers, one of approximately 50 copies issued on regular paper. Ten being issued on thick paper, and twenty copies destroyed in a fire. In very good condition, reinforcement to the hinges. Housed in a custom full morocco clamshell box. Howes F26.Continue reading "The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning: (A Tory in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain): Giving an Account of His Adventures in North Carolina, From 1775 to 1783 as Written by Himself, with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes."

Washington, George; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; James Monroe; John Quincy Adams; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; William Henry Harrison; John Tyler; James Polk; Zachary Taylor; Millard Fillmore; Franklin Pierce; James Buchanan; Abraham Lincoln; Andrew Johnson; Ulysses S. Grant; Rutherford B. Hayes; James Garfield; Chester A. Arthur; Grover Cleveland; William McKinley; Theodore Roosevelt; William H. Taft; Woodrow Wilson; Warren G. Harding; Calvin Coolidge; Herbert Hoover; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry Truman; Dwight D. Eisenhower

Autographs of the Presidents of the United States of America.

1783-1956.

Elaborately bound collection of Presidential autographs, containing the autograph of each of the first 34 Presidents of the United States from George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Quarto, bound in full red morocco by Riviere & Son with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt presidential sealContinue reading "Autographs of the Presidents of the United States of America."

Ames, Nathaniel. [Benjamin Franklin]

An Astronomical Diary or Almanack, for the Year of Our Lord Christ 1771.

Boston : Printed and Sold by the Printers and Booksellers, [1770].

First edition of Nathaniel Ames’ 1771 Almanack, containing the first known printing of “the most famous of American epitaphs” (Mark Van Doren). 12mo, original wrappers stitched as issued. In very good condition. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. An exceptional example of this scarce early almanac.

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano; Winston S. Churchill. [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]

Sail On, O Ship of State! The Longfellow Verse in Mr. Roosevelt’s Message to Mr. Churchill.

: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., [1941].

Rare lithographic broadside signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt as the thirty-second President of the United States and Winston S. Churchill as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the Atlantic Conference; one of only two known examples of this broadside specially printed at Churchill’s direction and signed by both world leaders at their first wartimeContinue reading "Sail On, O Ship of State! The Longfellow Verse in Mr. Roosevelt’s Message to Mr. Churchill."

Callender, James Thomson

The American Annual Register, or, Historical Memoirs of the United States, for the Year 1796.

Philadelphia : Printed and Sold by Bioren & Madan, January 19, 1797.

First edition, first issue in book form of Callender’s searing exposé. Octavo, bound in three quarter contemporary calf over marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt. In very good condition. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. Ownership inscriptions. The first printing of this work is exceedingly scarce as it wasContinue reading "The American Annual Register, or, Historical Memoirs of the United States, for the Year 1796."

[Jefferson, Thomas]

Second Congress of the United States: At the First Session, begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the twenty-fourth of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one. An Act to extend the Time limited for settling the Accounts of the United States with the Individual States.

Philadelphia : Childs & Swaine, 1792.

Scarce printing of an early United States law providing for the funding of the national debt, signed by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State. Folio, one page. The document, which also carries the printed signatures of President George Washington, Vice President John Adams, and House Speaker Jonathan Trumbull, was approved January 23, 1792. Individual actsContinue reading "Second Congress of the United States: At the First Session, begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the twenty-fourth of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one. An Act to extend the Time limited for settling the Accounts of the United States with the Individual States."

Acts Passed at a Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the Fourth of March, in the Year M,DDC,LXXXIX; and of the Independence of the United States, the Thirteenth. [With: Acts Passed at the Second Session of the Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New-York, on Monday the Fourth of January, in the Year M,DCC,XC: and of the Independence of the United States, the Fourteenth. [and] Acts Passed at the Third Session of the Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of Philadelphia on Monday the Sixth of December, In The Year M,DCC,XC: and of the Independence of the United States, the Fourteenth].

Philadelphia : Printed by Francis Childs and Joseph Swaine, Printers to the United States, [1791].

Rare early folio edition of the first official publication of the acts of the first Congress, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; bound with the first official printing of the acts of the second session of Congress and an early printing of the acts of the third session of Congress (issued the sameContinue reading "Acts Passed at a Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the Fourth of March, in the Year M,DDC,LXXXIX; and of the Independence of the United States, the Thirteenth. [With: Acts Passed at the Second Session of the Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New-York, on Monday the Fourth of January, in the Year M,DCC,XC: and of the Independence of the United States, the Fourteenth. [and] Acts Passed at the Third Session of the Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of Philadelphia on Monday the Sixth of December, In The Year M,DCC,XC: and of the Independence of the United States, the Fourteenth]."

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano

Whither Bound? A Lecture at Milton Academy on the Alumni War Memorial Foundation May 18, 1926.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1926.

First edition of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first book, being the text of a lecture delivered by him at Milton Academy on the Alumni War Memorial Foundation on May 18, 1926. Octavo, original cloth. One of one thousand copies printed. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page on the occasion of publication (andContinue reading "Whither Bound? A Lecture at Milton Academy on the Alumni War Memorial Foundation May 18, 1926."

Hall, Joseph

An Oration Pronounced July 4, 1800, at the Request of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in Commemoration of the Anniversary of American Independence.

Boston : From the Printing-Office of Manning & Loring, [1800].

First edition of Hall’s famed speech tracing the history of the American Revolution. Octavo, bound in paper-covered boards, original wrapper bound in at rear. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Ephraim Williams Esq. from his friend J. Hall.” In very good condition. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and half moroccoContinue reading "An Oration Pronounced July 4, 1800, at the Request of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in Commemoration of the Anniversary of American Independence."

Bush-Brown, Henry Kirke. [Ulysses S. Grant]

Ulysses S. Grant Bronze Bust.

New York : Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co., [c. 1885].

Attractive bronze bust of of Ulysses S. Grant as General of the Army by famed American sculptor Henry Kirke Bush-Brown. The adopted nephew of sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, Henry Kirke Bush-Brown was revered for his accurate realist sculptures illustrating American history. He produced three equestrian bronze sculptures erected at the Gettysburg battlefield depicting General GeorgeContinue reading "Ulysses S. Grant Bronze Bust."

Rowson, Susanna Haswell

Charlotte. A Tale of Truth.

Philadelphia : Printed by D. Humphreys for M. Carey, 1794.

Exceedingly rare first American edition (and the earliest obtainable example) of the first American bestseller. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in three quarter calf over marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. Although the first American edition was preceded by the first English edition published in 1791, no examples of theContinue reading "Charlotte. A Tale of Truth."

Franklin, Benjamin

Philosophical and Miscellaneous Papers. Lately written by B. Franklin, LL. D. Fellow of the Royal Society of London; Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris; President of the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia.

London : Printed for C. Dilly, in the Poultry, 1787.

First edition of the last collection of Franklin’s writings to appear during his lifetime; a major collection of his political, philosophical and scientific writings, a second volume of which was planned but never published. First issue with page 25 mispaginated “52.” Octavo, bound in full contemporary tree calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine,Continue reading "Philosophical and Miscellaneous Papers. Lately written by B. Franklin, LL. D. Fellow of the Royal Society of London; Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris; President of the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia."

Roosevelt, Theodore and Edmund Heller

Life-Histories of African Game Animals.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1914.

First edition of Roosevelt’s final work on big-game hunting. Octavo, 2 volumes, original buckram cloth with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispieces, with illustrations from photographs and drawings by Philip R. Goodwin and with forty faunal maps. In very good condition. A nice example.

Franklin, Benjamin

Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; Arranged under the Following Heads and Distinguished by Initial Letters in each Leaf: General Politics; American Politics before the Troubles; American Politics during the Troubles; Provincial or Colony Politics; Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces.

London : Printed for J. Johnson, 1779.

First edition of “the only edition of Franklin’s writings (other than his scientific) printed during his lifetime” (Ford). Octavo, bound half diced calf over marbled boards with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt. With the engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin, three engraved plates (one folding), and folding tableContinue reading "Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; Arranged under the Following Heads and Distinguished by Initial Letters in each Leaf: General Politics; American Politics before the Troubles; American Politics during the Troubles; Provincial or Colony Politics; Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces."

Washington, George

George Washington Letter Signed.

April 10, 1781.

Highly important letter signed (“Go: Washington”), as Commander-in-Chief, 2 pages folio, “Head Quarters New Windsor April 10 [17]81”, to his French ally Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, the body of the letter in the hand of his trusted aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton; horizontal fold separation repaired, minor tears and chips along margins. In theContinue reading "George Washington Letter Signed."

Webster, Daniel

Daniel Webster Autograph Letter Signed.

1836.

Rare autograph letter signed by one of the most prominent American lawyers of the 19th century, Daniel Webster written in anticipation of the opening of the American west. One page, folded, text in the hand of an amanuensis, the letter stipulates which types of land Webster and Perkins wish the recipient, Joseph R. Williams ofContinue reading "Daniel Webster Autograph Letter Signed."

Purple, N. H. [Abraham Lincoln; William Herndon]

A Compilation of the Statutes of the State of Illinois, of a General Nature, In Force January 1, 1856. Collated with Reference to Decisions of the Supreme Court of Said State, and to Prior Laws Relating to the Same Subject Matter.

Chicago : Published by Keen & Lee, 1856.

First edition of Purple’s Statutes from the law library of Abraham Lincoln and William Herndon. Large octavo, 2 volumes, bound in full contemporary calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt. With Herndon’s ownership signature on behalf of the firm to the front pastedown of Vol. I, “A. Lincoln W. Herndon Lincoln & Herndon Springfield”Continue reading "A Compilation of the Statutes of the State of Illinois, of a General Nature, In Force January 1, 1856. Collated with Reference to Decisions of the Supreme Court of Said State, and to Prior Laws Relating to the Same Subject Matter."