History, Law, and Politics

Shannon, Claude & Warren Weaver

The Mathematical Theory of Communication.

Urbana : University of Illinois, 1949.

First edition of the “the magna carta of the information age” (Scientific American), Shannon’s work provided “a mathematical guide for the system’s engineers [at Bell Labs], a blueprint for how to move data around with optimal efficiency” (Gertner p.128). Boldly signed by Claude E. Shannon on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a veryContinue reading "The Mathematical Theory of Communication."

Churchill, Winston S

Step By Step 1936-1939.

London : Thornton Butterworth Ltd, 1939.

First edition of this Churchill title, the last book he published before the outbreak of the Second World War. Octavo, bound in three quarters modern navy morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt. In fine condition.

Buchan, John

Montrose.

London : Thomas Nelson and Sons, Ltd., 1935.

First edition of Buchan’s fascinating biography of James Graham, first Marquess of Montrose. Octavo, bound in three-quarters morocco over marbled boards by Bayntun with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with portraits andContinue reading "Montrose."

Churchill, Winston S

Arms and the Covenant. Speeches by The Right Hon. Winston S. Churchill. Compiled by Randolph S. Churchill.

London : George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, 1938.

First edition of this important collection of Churchill’s speeches. Octavo, bound in three-quarters modern navy morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, frontispiece portrait of Churchill. In fine condition.

11-Star “Stars and Bars” Confederate States of America Flag.

1861.

Rare Civil War era Confederate States of America Flag, in use between July 2 and November 28, 1861 commemorating the admittance of Tennessee and North Carolina into the Confederacy. Cotton, hand-sewn and double-sided. The entire piece measures 36 inches by 50.5 inches. In near fine condition.

Goldin, Claudia Dale

Urban Slavery in the American South 1820-1860: A Quantitative History.

Chicago and London : The University of Chicago Press, 1976.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning economist’s classic first book, an economic analysis of enslaved labor in Southern cities during the 1800s. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with maps and graphs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Nov. 2024 For Ruth – My first book! Regards – Claudia Goldin.” Fine inContinue reading "Urban Slavery in the American South 1820-1860: A Quantitative History."

Follett, Ken

The Pillars of the Earth.

London : Macmillan, 1989.

First British edition of Follett’s immensely popular bestseller, widely considered his masterpiece which has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, pictorial endpapers. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page, “with best wishes – Ken Follett.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Dust jacket illustration by AndrewContinue reading "The Pillars of the Earth."

Heilbroner, Robert

Visions of the Future: The Distant Past, Yesterday Today, and Tomorrow.

New York : Oxford University Press, 1995.

First edition of this prescient work by the author of The Worldly Philosophers. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For John Barnhad with many thanks- Robert Heilbroner.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, date to the front endpaper.

Breyer, Stephen [Chip Kidd] [Peter Matthiessen]

Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge’s View.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2010.

First edition of the justice’s groundbreaking work. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to writer Peter Matthiessen on the half-title page, “For Peter Best wishes Stephen Breyer.” Additionally signed three times by jacket designer Chip Kidd on the half-title page in the year of publication, front panel [in the month ofContinue reading "Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge’s View."

Thompson, Hunter S.; Illustrations by Ralph Steadman [Jimmy Carter, George McGovern]

Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72.

San Francisco : Arrow Books, 1973.

First edition of the author’s third book and hallmark of campaign journalism. Octavo, original black boards, illustrated by Ralph Steadman. Boldly signed on the half-title page by Hunter Thompson, Ralph Steadman and Jimmy Carter opposite the half-title page. Fine in a near fine first issue price-clipped dust jacket with the white border around the photographContinue reading "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72."

Fermor, Patrick Leigh

Mani: Travels In The Southern Peloponnese.

London : John Murray, 1958.

First edition of the author’s travelogue about the rocky Mani, later complementing it with Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece and title-page vignette by John Craxton, map of the southern Peloponnese by John Woodcock, and illustrated with 26 photographs. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Dust jacket design byContinue reading "Mani: Travels In The Southern Peloponnese."

Fermor, Patrick Leigh

Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece.

London : John Murray, 1966.

First edition of the author’s travelogue companion piece to Mani. Octavo, original cloth, a map, and illustrated with black and white photographs. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with a couple of small closed tears. Jacket design by John Craxton. Photographs by author’s wife Joan Eyres Monsell. A very sharp example.

Crantz, David

The History of Greenland: Containing a Description of the Country, and Its Inhabitants.

London : Printed for the Brethren's Society, 1767.

First edition in English of Crantz’s elaborate account of the history of Greenland. first published in German in 1765. Octavo, two volumes bound in full period-style full speckled calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt stamping to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, illustrated with two folding maps and sevenContinue reading "The History of Greenland: Containing a Description of the Country, and Its Inhabitants."

Churchill, Winston S

My Early Life. A Roving Commission.

London : Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1930.

First edition of Churchill’s autobiographical writings on his younger years. Octavo, bound in three quarters modern navy morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, frontispiece, illustrated throughout with maps and portraits. In near fine condition.

McCarthy, Justin

A History of Our Own Times: From the Accession of Queen Victoria to the Berlin Congress.

London : Chatto & Windus, Piccadilly, 1879.

Finely bound edition of this classic historical work. Octavo, four volumes, bound in three quarter red calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, black morocco spine labels,  all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. In very good condition.

Aristotle; Translated by William Ellis

A Treatise on Government. Translated From The Greek of Aristotle.

London : T. Payne, 1776.

First edition in English of this important work on government by Aristotle. Quarto, bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards, full, morocco spine label, raised bands. In very good condition. Translated by William Ellis. An exceptional example of this cornerstone work.

Ferguson, Niall

The Ascent of Money.

London : Allen Lane, 2008.

First British edition of this original look at the origins of money and how it makes the world go round, destined to become a modern classic. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with diagrams and photographs. Boldly signed by Niall Ferguson on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Churchill, Winston S

Winston Churchill’s War Speeches: Into Battle, The Unrelenting Struggle, The End of the Beginning, Onwards to Victory, The Dawn of Liberation, Victory, Secret Session Speeches.

London : Cassell and Company, 1941-46.

First editions of each volume of Churchill’s classic war speeches. Octavo, 7 volumes bound in full crushed morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt decorated with gilt tooled Churchill lion emblems, top edge gilt, illustrated with 50 half-toneContinue reading "Winston Churchill’s War Speeches: Into Battle, The Unrelenting Struggle, The End of the Beginning, Onwards to Victory, The Dawn of Liberation, Victory, Secret Session Speeches."

Quarles, Benjamin

The Negro in the American Revolution.

Chapel Hill : The University of North Carolina Press, 1976.

Later printing of this examination of the roles and experiences of Black Americans during the Revolutionary War. Octavo, original publisher’s blue cloth. Boldly signed by the author on the title page, “Benjamin Quarles Baltimore, Maryland.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing. Jacket design by Elizabeth Resnick. Uncommon signed.

Ferguson, Niall

The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West.

New York : The Penguin Press, 2006.

First edition of this “deftly paced, continent-crossing account of the last century’s ‘age of hatred'” (The Guardian). Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, illustrated with maps, charts, and black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Niall Ferguson on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Dean Nicastro. Jacket photographContinue reading "The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West."

Ferguson, Niall

Empire: The Rise and Fall of the British World Order and The Lessons For Global Power.

New York : Basic Books, 2002.

First edition of this work by the award-winning historian. Tall Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Niall Ferguson on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Rick Pracher.

Ferguson, Niall

The Pity Of War: Explaining World War I.

London : Allen Lane, 1998.

First edition of this groundbreaking work on World War I. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Niall Ferguson on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Taylor, A.J.P

English History 1914-1945.

London : Oxford University Press, 1966.

First corrected edition of the final and best-selling volume in the Oxford History of England, covering both world wars and the interwar period. Octavo, bound in full modern morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with maps andContinue reading "English History 1914-1945."

Isaacson, Walter

The Genius Biographies: Benjamin Franklin, Einstein, Steve Jobs, and Leonardo da Vinci.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 2003-2017.

First editions of Isaacson’s definitive The Genius Biographies quartet, each volume signed by him. Octavo, four volumes, original publisher’s half cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Walter Isaacson on the title page of each volume, with Leonardo da Vinci an inscribed by Walter Isaacson.” Each volume is fine in a fine dust jacket.