History, Law, and Politics

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."

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."

Levi-Strauss, Claude

Tristes Tropiques.

New York : Criterion Books, 1961.

First edition in English of Levi-Strauss’ landmark work. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, illustrated with 48 pages of photographs and 48 line drawings. Boldly signed by Claude Levi-Strauss on the half-title page. Translated from the French by John Russell. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed.

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.

Rorty, Richard

Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature.

Princeton : Princeton University Press, 1979.

First edition of this classic work of twentieth century philosophy. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Richard Rorty on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed.

Ketchum, Richard M

The Borrowed Years 1938-1941: America on the Way to War.

New York : Random House, 1989.

First edition of this historical account that explores the political, cultural, and ideological tensions in the United States during the precarious prelude to its entry into World War II. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs and maps. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Ellen Plummer withContinue reading "The Borrowed Years 1938-1941: America on the Way to War."

Begin, Menachem

White Nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia.

London : Macdonald, 1957.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “To Esther Meyer this book is dedicated with thanks for her good work in the service of our cause and with my best wishes- M Begin Nov 1957.” Near fineContinue reading "White Nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia."

Manstein, Erich Von

Lost Victories.

Chicago : Henry Regnery Company, 1958.

First edition in English of this memoir of a German field marshal during World War II. 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, illustrated with black andContinue reading "Lost Victories."

Schelling, Thomas C

The Strategy of Conflict.

Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, 1960.

First edition of this work that pioneered the study of bargaining and strategic behavior. Octavo, original yellow cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For William Tom Schelling. June ’10.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Uncommon in this condition and signed.

Thompson, Hunter S. [Jimmy Carter]

Jimmy Carter & The Great Leap of Faith: An Endorsement, with Fear & Loathing.

: Rolling Stone, June 3, 1976.

Original Rolling Stone newspaper from the June 3, 1976 issue. Quarto, featuring Dr. Hunter S. Thompson’s article ‘Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72’ beginning on page 54. In very good condition.

Koolhaas, Rem

Elements of Architecture.

: Taschen, 2018.

First edition of this destined to be classic by the award-winning architect. Quarto, original illustrated boards, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Rem Koolhaas on the title page. In fine condition. With essays by Rem Koolhaas, Stephan Trueby, James Westcott and Stephan Petermann; interviews with Werner Sobek and Tony Fadell (of Nest); and an exclusive photoContinue reading "Elements of Architecture."