History, Law, and Politics

Roosevelt, Franklin D

Franklin D. Roosevelt Typed Letter Signed.

Albany : State of New York Executive Chamber, 1930.

Rare 20th century typed letter signed by President Roosevelt as New York Governor. One page, typescript on State of New York Executive Chamber stationary, the letter is dated August 11, 1930 and reads, ‘Mr. Edwin T. Thayer, Brook Bend Tavern, Monterey, Mass. Dear Mr. Thayer: Thanks much for your delightful letter of August seventh. IContinue reading "Franklin D. Roosevelt Typed Letter Signed."

Spreckels, Claus

Claus Spreckels Signed Stock Certificate for the San Francisco & San Joaquin Railway.

San Francisco : San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway, 1895.

Rare San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway stock certificate signed by industrialist Claus Spreckels. Quarto, one page page partially printed in red, green, black, and accomplished in manuscript, the certificate is dated February 26, 1895 as certificate #6 and issues 500 shares in the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway. Signed by ClausContinue reading "Claus Spreckels Signed Stock Certificate for the San Francisco & San Joaquin Railway."

Newton, Isaac

Isaac Newton Manuscript Land Indenture Signed.

November 11, 1719.

Rare and unrecorded 18th century legal document signed twice at the conclusion by Sir Isaac Newton as a witness to a land indenture. Manuscript document signed twice on the verso “Isaac Newton”, one vellum membrane, dated 11 November 1719, signed by Thomas Sturgess and with his seal, witnessed twice on the dorse (the sealing ofContinue reading "Isaac Newton Manuscript Land Indenture Signed."

Stevens, John Paul; Sandra Day O’Connor; Antonin Scalia; William H. Rehnquist; David Souter; Anthony Kennedy; Clarence Thomas; Byron R. White; Harry A. Blackmun

Rehnquist Supreme Court Signed Oversized Photograph.

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William Rehnquist Supreme Court oversized photograph signed by all nine justices, dressed in robes. Signed on the mat by John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O’Connor, Antonin Scalia, William H. Rehnquist, David Souter, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Byron R. White, and Harry A. Blackmun. Matted and framed. In fine condition. The piece measures 22.15 inches byContinue reading "Rehnquist Supreme Court Signed Oversized Photograph."

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 full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, triple gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.

McCullough, David

John Adams.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2001.

Later printing of the author’s second Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by the David McCullough on the title page. Fine in a  fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Wendell Minor. Jacket painting by Gilbert Stuart.

Woodward, Bob [Alan Greenspan]

Maestro: Greenspan’s Fed and the American Boom.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2000.

First edition of the definitive biography of the former Federal Chairman by the author of All the President’s Men. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Bruce With greatest respect. Bob Woodward.” Additionally signed by Alan Greenspan on the half-title page. The recipient, Bruce Wasserstein wasContinue reading "Maestro: Greenspan’s Fed and the American Boom."

Grant, Ulysses S. [U.S.]

Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant.

New York : Charles L. Webster & Company, 1885-86.

First edition of the memoirs of one of the most recognized figures in American military history, illustrated with tissue-guarded portrait frontispieces, numerous steel engravings, facsimiles and 43 maps, in deluxe publisher’s full sheep. Octavo, 2 volumes, publisher’s full tan sheep with gilt titles to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, red and navyContinue reading "Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant."

Stevenson, Adlai Ewing; Theodore C. Sorensen

The Stark Reality of Responsibility. [WITH] Two Issues of Foreign Affairs: Loyal to a Fault? and America’s First Post-Cold War President. [AND] Theodore Sorensen Autograph Note Signed.

Chicago : Americana House, 1952.

Limited first edition of Adlai Ewing Stevenson’s welcoming and acceptance addresses before the Democratic National Convention. Quarto, original publisher’s three quarter blue morocco over cloth with gilt titles to the spine, front panel stamped in gilt. One of one hundred copies printed on Maidstone hand-made paper and signed by the author on the half-title page.Continue reading "The Stark Reality of Responsibility. [WITH] Two Issues of Foreign Affairs: Loyal to a Fault? and America’s First Post-Cold War President. [AND] Theodore Sorensen Autograph Note Signed."

Riis, Jacob

The Making of An American. [WITH] Jacob A. Riis Autograph Letter Signed.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1902.

Early printing of this exceptional autobiography from the exceptional American reporter and reformer, Jacob A. Riis. Octavo, original blue ribbed cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, tissue-guarded half-tone frontispiece portrait of Riis, top edge gilt illustrated with in-line and full-page half-tone drawings and photographs. In very good condtion with rubbing, bookplateContinue reading "The Making of An American. [WITH] Jacob A. Riis Autograph Letter Signed."

Myers, William Starr; Walter H. Newton [Herbert Hoover]

The Hoover Administration: A Documented Narrative.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1936.

First edition of this complete, fully documented, and authoritative story of Herbert Hoover’s four years as President. Octavo, original navy cloth, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Hoover from the drawing by Clarence R. Mattei. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by Hoover on the front free endpaper, “Dear Mrs. Bent, This is not my authorship but I amContinue reading "The Hoover Administration: A Documented Narrative."

Leeser, Isaac

Discourses on the Jewish Religion.

Philadelphia : Sherman & Co, 1866-68.

Rare first editions of one of the ‘major builders of American Judaism’, Isaac Leeser’s Discourses on the Jewish Religion. Octavo, 10 volumes, bound in full leather, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. In near fine condition. Complete sets are of the utmost rarity.

Journal of the Eighteenth Annual Session, of the National Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic.

Philadelphia : Town Book and Job Printing House, 1884.

First edition of this record of post-war social meetings by members of the army; from the library of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Royal octavo, original morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the front panel. General Sherman and his son’s bookplates to the front pastedown, calling card of 12th Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army ofContinue reading "Journal of the Eighteenth Annual Session, of the National Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic."

Caro, Robert A

The Power Broker.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1974.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer-Prize winning work on Robert Moses. Thick octavo, original black cloth, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Richard from Robert A. Caro.” Also laid in is a signed card from Robert A. Caro from the East Rockaway Library Board and the Cultural ArtsContinue reading "The Power Broker."

York, Alvin C

Sergeant York: His Own Life Story and War Diary.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc, 1928.

First edition of this classic work by one of the most decorated soldiers, basis for the 1941 film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Gary Cooper. Octavo, original cloth. Edited by Tom Skeyhill. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. Name and inscription to the front free endpaper.

Taft, William Howard; Theodore Marburg; Horace E. Flack

Taft Papers on League of Nations.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1920.

First edition of this collection of speeches and articles by President William Howard Taft from May 1915 to the adoption of the revised Paris Covenant on April 28, 1919. Octavo, original publisher’s tan cloth, red leather spine label. Signed by Taft on the front free endpaper. In very good condition with light toning to theContinue reading "Taft Papers on League of Nations."

Churchill, Winston S

The River War: An Account of the Reconquest of the Sudan.

London : Longmans, Green, and Co, 1899.

First editions of Churchill’s second book. Octavo, 2 volumes, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with 22 maps and plans, several folding. Woods A2(a). In very good condition.

Brown, Hallie Q

Pen Pictures of Pioneers of Wilberforce.

Xenia, OH : The Aldine Publishing Company, 1937.

First edition of this snapshot of early life at Wilberforce, Ohio by the legendary African-American educator and activist. Small octavo, original green pictorial cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs and etchings. Boldly signed by Hallie Q. Brown on the front pastedown. In near fine condition. Accompanied by two advertisements for this and one ofContinue reading "Pen Pictures of Pioneers of Wilberforce."

Balfour, Arthur James

Arthur James Balfour Collection of Autograph Letters Signed.

1892-1911.

Rare collection of four letters signed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905. The collection includes: Duodecimo, four pages, embossed with the House of Commons insignia and signed by Balfour to “Dear Duchess,” which reads in part “I am very glad indeed to hear of yr. success in finding aContinue reading "Arthur James Balfour Collection of Autograph Letters Signed."

Kirk, Russell

The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot.

London : Faber & Faber, 1954.

First British edition of one of the greatest contributions to twentieth-century American conservatism. Octavo, original cloth. Very good in a very good dust jacket, with some marginalia. Rare in the original jacket.