History, Law, and Politics

Kelly, Grace Patricia. [Princess Grace of Monaco]

Princess Grace of Monaco Signed Royal Christmas Card.

1974.

Royal 1974 Christmas and New Year Card with a mounted color photograph of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace with their three children Princess Caroline, Prince Albert II, Princess Stéphanie. Octavo, folding card with mounted color photograph, gilt royal seal and red ruling to the front panel. Signed and inscribed by Princess Grace, “Dear Lucile MerryContinue reading "Princess Grace of Monaco Signed Royal Christmas Card."

Hayek, Friedrich August von [F.A.]

The Road To Serfdom.

London : Routledge & Sons, 1944.

First edition of one of the most influential and popular expositions of classical liberalism ever published. Octavo, original black cloth. The British edition (which this example is) was published in March of 1944, preceding its American counterpart, which was published later that same year in September. Very good  in a very good dust jacket, contemporaryContinue reading "The Road To Serfdom."

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."

Mandela, Nelson

I Am Prepared to Die.

London : International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa, 1979.

Early edition of Mandela’s classic Rivonia Speech. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. In fine condition.

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."

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."

Kennedy, Caroline

Profiles in Courage for Our Time.

New York : Hyperion, 2002.

First edition of this inspirational continuation of John F. Kennedy’s ‘Profiles in Courage.’ Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Boldly signed by Caroline Kennedy on the title page. Caroline Kennedy is an American author, attorney, and diplomat whose work spans literature, law, and public service. As the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, she has played aContinue reading "Profiles in Courage for Our Time."

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."

Turner, John Kenneth [John F. Kennedy]

Challenge to Karl Marx.

New York : Reynal & Hitchcock, 1941.

First edition of Turner’s landmark analysis of Marx and Marxist theory from the library of John F. Kennedy with his ownership signatures and annotations throughout. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. From the library of John F. Kennedy, signed by him on three separate occasions above his ownership stamp in black ink, “John F. Kennedy 1941,” JohnContinue reading "Challenge to Karl Marx."

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."

Reagan, Ronald; Richard Nixon; Gerald Ford; Jimmy Carter

Ronald Reagan Signed Photograph of Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon.

1981.

Rare photograph of American Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon gathered at the White House before departing for Anwar Sadat’s funeral in 1981. Anwar Sadat (1918–1981) served as the third President of Egypt from 1970 until his assassination in 1981. He is best known for his pivotal role in initiating peaceContinue reading "Ronald Reagan Signed Photograph of Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon."

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.

Chomsky, Noam

Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy.

New York : Metropolitan Books, 2006.

First edition of this work by Chomsky. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Noam Chomsky on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Matthew Enderlin.

Chomsky, Noam

American Power And The New Mandarins: Historical and Political Essays.

New York : Pantheon Books, 1969.

First edition of Chomsky’s first political book. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Noam Chomsky on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ronald Clyne.

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."