History, Law, and Politics

MacKay, Charles

Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

London : Richard Bentley, 1841.

First edition of this classic study of crowd psychology, a compilation of human folly throughout the ages. Octavo, three volumes, bound in three-quarters half crushed red morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, greenContinue reading "Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds."

Odysseus [Homer]

Sperlonga Odysseus Marble Bust.

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A marble bust of the head of the Sperlonga Odysseus. The sculptures discovered at the former villa of Emperor Tiberius in Sperlonga form one of the most significant ensembles of Hellenistic-style Roman sculpture, depicting dramatic mythological scenes such as the Blinding of Polyphemus and the Scylla Group. These monumental marble groups, likely created by RhodianContinue reading "Sperlonga Odysseus Marble Bust."

Kennedy, John F. [Robert F. Kennedy; Ethel Kennedy; Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; John F. Kennedy Jr.; Caroline Kennedy; Rory Kennedy; Gerry Adams]

Profiles In Courage.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1964.

First edition of the Memorial Edition of Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth, top stain red, frontispiece, illustrated with eight pages of black-and-white photogravures. Foreword by Robert F. Kennedy. Presentation copy, inscribed and signed by the Kennedy family on the front free endpaper: inscribed by Robert F. Kennedy, “For Marlene 3/17/64”; inscribed byContinue reading "Profiles In Courage."

Churchill, Winston S

The World Crisis: The Eastern Front.

London : Library of Imperial History, 1974.

The Centenary Limited Edition of the fifth volume of Churchill’s The World Crisis. Octavo, bound in full modern morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands,ruling to the front and rear panels stamped in blind, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers, frontispiece, illustrated with numerous maps (many folding), charts,Continue reading "The World Crisis: The Eastern Front."

Hoover, Herbert and Hugh Gibson

The Problems of Lasting Peace.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1942.

First edition of this analysis for peace post-World War II. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed and signed by both authors on the front free endpaper, “To Harvey P. Keller With the good wishes of Herbert Hoover.” Additionally signed by Hugh Gibson. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Armstrong, Neil; Gene Cernan; George Bush; Cy Laughter

Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, George H.W. Bush, and Cy Laughter Signed Photograph.

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Photographic print of the iconic ‘Earthrise’ image taken by Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission. Glossy finish color print of the earth rising over the moon, with “To Gene Cernan” calligraphically inscribed on the mat beneath. Boldly signed on the mat beneath the photograph by Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, George H.W. Bush and Cy Laughter. The first and lastContinue reading "Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, George H.W. Bush, and Cy Laughter Signed Photograph."

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 & Company, 1948-54.

First editions of each volume in Churchill’s World War II masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, original black cloth, patterned endpapers, illustrated with in-line and folding maps and documents. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page of Vol. I, “Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill 1950.” Each are near fine in near fine dust jackets. AnContinue reading "The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy."

Albrizzi, Giambattista; Giovanni Battista Piazzetta

Mappamondo o sia Descrizione Generale Del Globo Terrestre Ed Acquatico.

Venice : Giambattista Albrizzi, c. 1750.

Fine hand-colored example of Albrizzi’s double hemisphere map of the World, one of the most elaborately decorated world maps to appear in mid-18th century Italy and a beautiful example of the Italian school of commercial cartography. One page, the map includes a finely executed armillary sphere, explorer’s routes, unknown NW Coast of America, incomplete projectionsContinue reading "Mappamondo o sia Descrizione Generale Del Globo Terrestre Ed Acquatico."

de Vargas Ponce, José

Relacion Del Ultimo Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes de la Fragata De S. M. Santa Maria de la Cabeza en los Anos de 1785 y 1786. [Account of the Last Voyage to the Strait of Magellan by His Majesty’s Frigate Santa María de la Cabeza in the Years 1785 and 1786].

Madrid : Por La Viuda de Ibarra, Hijos y Compania, 1788.

First edition of this important work on the Strait of Magellan. Quarto, two volumes bound into one in contemporary calf-backed marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in git, engraved frontispiece portrait of Magellan, 5 large folding maps on heavy paper and 5 folding tables. An important work on theContinue reading "Relacion Del Ultimo Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes de la Fragata De S. M. Santa Maria de la Cabeza en los Anos de 1785 y 1786. [Account of the Last Voyage to the Strait of Magellan by His Majesty’s Frigate Santa María de la Cabeza in the Years 1785 and 1786]."

Foxe, John

[Foxe’s Book of Martyrs]. Actes And Monuments Of Matters Most Speciall And Memorable, Happening in the Church, with an Universall Historie of the Same.

London : Printed for the Company of Stationers [Henry Lownes], 1610.

Rare sixth edition of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (as it was later known), a foundational text for English Protestant identity first published in 1563. Under Elizabeth I, copies of this work were placed in cathedrals alongside the Bible, and the dedication at front (to Elizabeth) includes a large woodcut initial depicting Queen Elizabeth on theContinue reading "[Foxe’s Book of Martyrs]. Actes And Monuments Of Matters Most Speciall And Memorable, Happening in the Church, with an Universall Historie of the Same."

Freeman, Douglas Southall

George Washington: A Biography.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948-54.

First edition of the author’s monumental Pulitzer Prize-winning work, widely considered the definitive biography of Washington. Octavo, six volumes, original black cloth, spines lettered in gilt, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, with Vol. I inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Autographed for Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. Ramage with every good wish DouglasContinue reading "George Washington: A Biography."

Pound, Arthur; Alfred Sloan P

The Turning Wheel: The Story of General Motors Through Twenty-Five Years 1908-1933.

New York : Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc, 1934.

First edition of this history of General Motors and the motor car. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain navy blue, pictorial endpapers, frontispiece, with black and white illustrations throughout. Boldly signed and dated by Arthur Pound and Alfred Sloan on the second free endpaper. Alfred P. Sloan, long-serving president and later chairman of General Motors,Continue reading "The Turning Wheel: The Story of General Motors Through Twenty-Five Years 1908-1933."

Bolivar, Simon

Simón Bolívar Signed Military Appointment.

1822.

Rare military appointment signed by ‘El Libertador’, Simón Bolívar as President of Gran Colombia. One page, quarto, wax seal mostly intact, partially printed on Bolivar’s presidential letterhead, the document is dated May 21, 1822 and appoints Miguel Arissmendi as Lieutenant-Colonel. Signed by Bolívar and countersigned by General Bartolome Salom on verso. The final battle inContinue reading "Simón Bolívar Signed Military Appointment."

Holmes, Oliver Wendell

Grandmother’s Story of Bunker Hill Battle.

New York : Dodd, Mead & Company, 1883.

First McVickar illustrated edition of this narrative poem of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Octavo, original pictorial cloth, floral endpapers, frontispiece, title page vignette, with color illustrations throughout by H.W. McVickar. McVickar was an American illustrator and author active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for his contributions to popular magazines andContinue reading "Grandmother’s Story of Bunker Hill Battle."

Robeson, Paul

Here I Stand.

London : Dennis Dobson, 1958.

First edition, second printing of Robeson’s powerful first book. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Ownership stamp to the front free endpaper. Jacket photograph by Al Burneu.

Ethiopian Ge’ez Healing Scroll.

Ethiopia c. 19th century.

Rare original parchment healing scroll written in Ge’ez, the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Portable manuscript on parchment in red and black ink, with a talismanic design at the top. Typically kept rolled and stored until used, this example is unrolled, mounted on thin wooden boards, and presented under glass in a black metalContinue reading "Ethiopian Ge’ez Healing Scroll."

Churchill, Winston S

The World Crisis 1916-1918.

London : Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1927.

First edition, second printing of the first two volumes of Churchill’s The World Crisis. Octavo, two volumes, bound in full modern morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edges gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "The World Crisis 1916-1918."

Plato; Hans Erni [Illustrator] Giovanni Mardersteig [Printer]

The Trial and Death of Socrates.

New York : The Limited Editions Club, 1962.

The Limited Editions Club signed limited edition of this collection of four dialogues written by Plato recounting the death of Socrates. Octavo, bound in full modern morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, with colorContinue reading "The Trial and Death of Socrates."

Aldrin, Buzz

Buzz Aldrin Signed Life Magazine: Anniversary Edition of Apollo 11.

New York : Life Magazine, 1969.

Rare original Life Magazine July 20, 1969 commemorative issue celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. Quarto, original pictorial wrappers, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed on the cover by Buzz Aldrin in blue felt tip at far left middle. In fine condition. Housed in its original Life Collector’s Series presentation folder with an accompanyingContinue reading "Buzz Aldrin Signed Life Magazine: Anniversary Edition of Apollo 11."

Popper, Karl R

The Open Society And Its Enemies.

London : George Routledge & Sons, 1945.

First editions of Popper’s magnum opus. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth. In near fine condition with the rare original dust jackets in very good condition.