History, Law, and Politics

Morris, Jan

Hong Kong.

Franklin Center, Pennsylvania : The Franklin Library, 1988.

Signed limited first edition of this incredibly vibrant history of Hong Kong, privately printed exclusively for members of The Signed First Edition Society. Octavo, Smyth-sewn and bound in full top-grain leather specially processed for fine books by the Cromwell Leather Company with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands,Continue reading "Hong Kong."

Munger, Charlie

Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger.

Virginia Beach, VA : Donning Company Publishers, 2005.

First edition of this classic work. Oblong quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Charlie Munger on the half-title page, “to Rick Charlie Munger.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Foreword by Warren E. Buffett. Edited by Peter D. Kaufman. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Rick Levey about acquiring the book laidContinue reading "Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger."

Kissinger, Henry

White House Years and Years of Upheaval.

Boston : Little, Brown & Company, 1979-1982.

Signed limited editions of Kissinger’s White House Years and Years of Upheaval. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 48 pages of photographs, ribbons bound in. Both volumes are signed by Henry Kissinger. Both volumes are in fine condition and housed in the original slipcases.

Churchill, Winston S

The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy.

London : Cassell & Co. Ltd, 1948-1954.

First editions of each volume in Churchill’s World War II masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, original black cloth with spines lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers, illustrated with in-line and folding maps and documents. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page of Vol. IV, “Winston S. Churchill.” Each volume is near fine in a veryContinue reading "The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy."

Waddington, David. [Winston S. Churchill]

Winston Churchill Signed Royal Air Force Portrait.

.

Rare color transfer print of Winston Churchill in his Royal Air Force (RAF) uniform by David Waddington, one of five known examples produced. Boldly signed by Winston Churchill in the lower border in ink, “Winston S. Churchill.” Additionally with Waddington’s signature printed in facsimile. While serving in the Royal Air Force, photographer David Waddington was assignedContinue reading "Winston Churchill Signed Royal Air Force Portrait."

[Hill, Tex; Ken Jernstedt; Paul J. Greene; Robert T. Smith; Dick Rossi; Erik Shilling; Bob Layher; Ed Rector; Charlie Bond; Robert M. Smith; Edward F. Gallagher; Frank Losonsky; Rolland Richardson; Carl Quick; Al Kaelin; John Richard Rossi]

Chennault’s Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group.

Minnesota : Flying Tigers 14th Air Force Association, Inc, 1982.

First edition of this detailed and richly illustrated tribute to American Volunteer Group’s pivotal role in early World War II air combat. Quarto, original blue boards with an inlay of a flying tiger and Claire Lee Chennault, pictorial and cartographic endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. Boldly signed on a Flying Tigers bookplateContinue reading "Chennault’s Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group."

King Jr., Martin Luther

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

First edition of King’s “last grand expression of his vision” (Cornel West). Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with eight pages of black-and-white photogravures. Association copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Cass Canfield For whom I have great respect and admiration Martin Luther King, Jr.” The recipient, Cass Canfield, wasContinue reading "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?"

Keyes, E.D [William Tecumseh Sherman]

Fifty Years’ Observation of Men and Events Civil and Military.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1884.

First edition of this memoir of a Union soldier and civilian; from the library of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Small octavo, original cloth. General William Tecumseh Sherman and his son P.T. Sherman’s bookplates to the front pastedown. In good condition with some rubbing to the spine, front and rear panels. General Sherman’s library was inheritedContinue reading "Fifty Years’ Observation of Men and Events Civil and Military."

The Soldier’s Manual, For Cavalry, Artillery, Light Infantry, and Infantry.

Philadelphia : Published by James H. Nesmith, 1824.

First edition of the first American military color plate book. Quarto, original publisher’s boards, illustrated with twelve plates representing volunteer corps in the first division Pennsylvania militia. In very good condition with the plates exceptionally bright. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare, one of only three known complete copies. This example was heldContinue reading "The Soldier’s Manual, For Cavalry, Artillery, Light Infantry, and Infantry."

Corbin, Jacques. [George Washington]

Le Code Louis XIII. Roy De France Et De Navarre. [From the Library of George Washington].

A Paris : Chez Pierre Billaine, 1628.

First edition of Corbin’s legal compilation of ordinances and judgments issued during the reign of Louis XIII of France, from the library of General George Washington. Folio, bound in full mottled calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling andContinue reading "Le Code Louis XIII. Roy De France Et De Navarre. [From the Library of George Washington]."

Watson, Richard

An Apology for the Bible; In a Series of Letters, Addressed to Thomas Paine, Author of a book entitled The Age of Reason, Part the Second, Being and Investigation of True and of Fabulous Theology.

Philadelphia : Printed for W. Young, Mills & Son, 1796.

Rare early printing of this response to Thomas Paine’s ‘The Age of Reason.’ Duodecimo, original full leather with gilt titles and ruling to the spine. In very good condition with rubbing to the extremities, front panel, and spine, some toning throughout, a small loss to the front flyleaf, and bookplates to the front free endpaperContinue reading "An Apology for the Bible; In a Series of Letters, Addressed to Thomas Paine, Author of a book entitled The Age of Reason, Part the Second, Being and Investigation of True and of Fabulous Theology."

Armorial Binding.

[France] c. 1690.

Rare original armorial binding in gold and silver thread bearing a coat of arms reminiscent of the Durazzo family of Venice. Small octavo, empty, white silk with pink silk pastedowns, the outer border decorated with floral repeating motives in silver and green foil leaves, and the escutcheon crowned by a pink hat with six tasselsContinue reading "Armorial Binding."

Medieval Gregorian Chant Manuscript.

.

Rare medieval Gregorian chant manuscript on vellum with the “S” for Sanctus in elaborately illuminated in gilt. One page with text and illustrations on both the recto and verso. In very good condition. Framed with both the recto and verso visible. The manuscript measures 21.5 inches by 29.25 inches. The entire piece measures 22.25 inchesContinue reading "Medieval Gregorian Chant Manuscript."

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, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Best Wishes Martin Luther King, Jr.” This book was signed at Coe College in October 1962, with a picture laid in of him there when he lectured there. From the libraryContinue reading "Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story."

Reddick, L.D. [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

Crusader Without Violence: A Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1959.

First edition of one the earliest biographies of “the American Gandhi.” Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed “Best Wishes Martin Luther King, Jr.” on the front free endpaper. This book was signed at Coe College in October 1962, when King lectured there. From the library of a Civil RightsContinue reading "Crusader Without Violence: A Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr."

Watson, Thomas J. and Peter Petre

Father, Son & Co.: My Life at IBM and Beyond.

New York : Bantam Books, 1990.

First edition of the autobiography of “the greatest capitalist in history” (Fortune Magazine). Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Thomas J. Watson, Jr. on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Desirable signed.

Caro, Robert A. [Paul Schrader]

The Power Broker.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1974.

First edition of Caro’s Pulitzer-Prize winning work on Robert Moses. Thick octavo, original black cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated with numerous photographs and maps, top stain red. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Paul Schrader – with best wishes Robert A Caro.” The recipient, Paul Schrader, is a screenwriter, director, andContinue reading "The Power Broker."

Yefremyan, Z.S. [Armenia]

Patkerazharp Bnashkharhaki Bararan. [Illustrated Geographical Dictionary].

Venice : A. Ghazaryan, 1903-05.

Rare edition of volume one of this Armenian geographical reference work. Thick quarto, written in Armenian, bound in three-quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, floral endpapers, title page vignette, illustrated throughout. In very good condition with light toning.

Baldwin, James

The Fire Next Time.

New York : The Dial Press, 1963.

First edition of one of the most influential works on race relations published in the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Paul Bacon. Jacket photograph by Mottke Weissman.

Gordon, Thomas [George Washington]

Another Cordial for Low-Spirits. [George Washington’s Copy].

London : R. Griffiths, 1751.

From the library of George Washington of this compilation of political and religious essays regarding contemporary issues in Great Britain. Small octavo, volume two, bound in full contemporary brown calf with a gilt number two and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels,Continue reading "Another Cordial for Low-Spirits. [George Washington’s Copy]."

Dana, Charles Anderson; [Theodore Roosevelt; General Nelson A. Miles; Admiral W. S. Schley]

Lincoln and His Cabinet: A Lecture Delivered Before the New Haven Colony Historical Society, Tuesday, March 10, 1896.

New York : Republican Club of the City of New-York, 1899.

Special limited edition souvenir of the thirteenth annual Lincoln Dinner of the Republican Club of the city of New-York, 1899. Duodecimo, original half-cloth with gilt titles to the spine, frontispiece of Abraham Lincoln, illustrated. One of 500 numbered copies, this is number 126. Boldly signed on the front free endpaper in pencil by President TheodoreContinue reading "Lincoln and His Cabinet: A Lecture Delivered Before the New Haven Colony Historical Society, Tuesday, March 10, 1896."

Major, R.H. [Christopher Columbus]

The Bibliography of the First Letter of Christopher Columbus, Describing His Discovery of the New World.

London : Ellis & White, 1872.

First limited edition of this comprehensive bibliography cataloging the various editions and translations of Columbus’s first letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella describing his initial voyage to the ‘New World’. Duodecimo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands,Continue reading "The Bibliography of the First Letter of Christopher Columbus, Describing His Discovery of the New World."

Huntington, Samuel P

Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2004.

First edition of Samuel P. Huntington’s last work. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the second free endpaper, “To our favorite Sherpa, This intelligent report on a most bizarre country, yours ever, Sam.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Marc J. Cohen. Books signed byContinue reading "Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity."

Wood, Gordon S

The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin.

New York : The Penguin Press, 2004.

First edition of this fresh vision of Franklin’s life and reputation. Octavo, original pictorial boards, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Charlie Thomas, with best wishes, Gordon S. Wood 6/4/04.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Evan Gaffney.