History, Law, and Politics

Ben-Gurion, David

David-Ben Gurion Signed Photograph.

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Rare photograph of the Founding Father of Israel David Ben-Gurion. Glossy black and white photograph of David Ben-Gurion seated with a book in his lap. Presentation copy, inscribed by Ben-Gurion in the top right corner, “To Karen Moss, D. Ben-Gurion.” Framed. In near fine condition. The piece measures 11 inches by 9 inches.

Schedel, Hartmann

Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle].

Nuremberg : Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 12 July 1493.

Exceptionally rare colored example of the first edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle, the most extensively illustrated book of the 15th century. Imperial folio, bound in full 17th-century pigskin over bevelled wooden boards with elaborate blind tooling and scrolling to the spine and panels, brass cornerpieces, 2 fore-edge clasps, 325 leaves (of 328, without blank 55/6Continue reading "Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle]."

Roosevelt, Theodore

Theodore Roosevelt Signed Document.

City of Washington February 13, 1908.

Rare document signed by Theodore Roosevelt as President. One page, partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, the document is dated February 13, 1908, and appoints Robert Eaton as “Collector of Internal Revenue for the District of Connecticut.” Signed at the conclusion by Theodore Roosevelt, and countersigned by Secretary of Treasury George B. Cortelyou. Gold foil seal remainsContinue reading "Theodore Roosevelt Signed Document."

Friedman, Milton & Rose

Tyranny of the Status Quo.

New York : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1984.

First edition of this work which analyzes the Reagan Administration’s attempts to greatly reduce taxes, regulations, and government spending and suggests practical changes. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Milton and Rose Friedman on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Lem Rauk/ Visible Ink. Jacket photography byContinue reading "Tyranny of the Status Quo."

Jackson, Andrew

Andrew Jackson Signed Land Grant for Vigo County, Indiana, for Charles B. Modesitt.

City of Washington : General Land Office, 1830.

Rare Presidential Land Grant signed by Andrew Jackson as President. Quarto, one page partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, the document is dated January 4, 1830 and grants a quarter of land in Vigo County, Indiana to Charles B. Modesitt. The recipient, Charles Burns Modesitt, was a physician and businessman and one of the firstContinue reading "Andrew Jackson Signed Land Grant for Vigo County, Indiana, for Charles B. Modesitt."

Harriman, Edward Henry

Edward Henry Harriman Signed Stock Certificate for the Cedar Falls and Minnesota Railroad Company.

New York : Central Trust Company of New York, 1895.

Rare Cedar Falls and Minnesota Railroad Company stock certificate signed by American financier and railroad executive E.H. Harriman. Quarto, one page partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, the certificate is dated December 19, 1895 and issues 100 shares of the Capital Stock in the Cedar Falls and Minnesota Railroad Co. to Harriman. The document readsContinue reading "Edward Henry Harriman Signed Stock Certificate for the Cedar Falls and Minnesota Railroad Company."

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."

Wallace, Henry A; Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Russell Lord

Democracy Reborn.

London : Hammond, Hammond & Co. Ltd, 1945.

First English edition of this work on democratic politics. Octavo, original tan cloth, frontispiece portrait of the author, illustrated with black and white plates. In very good condition with toning to the spine, front and rear panels.

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.

Besant, Walter Sir

The Survey of London. Complete in 10 volumes: Mediaeval London; Historical & Social; Ecclesiastical; London in the Time of the Tudors; London in the Time of the Stuarts; London in the Eighteenth Century; London in the Nineteenth Century.

London : Adam & Charles Black, 1903-1912..

First editions of this work on the great city of London. Quarto, original red cloth, 10 volumes, with titles the spine in gilt and front panel, gilt topstain, illustrated throughout. Each volume is in very good to near fine condition with light wear to the spine extremities. An exceptional set.

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."

Kennerly, David Hume [Colin Powell]

Photo Op.

Austin, TX : University of Texas Press, 1995.

First edition of this collection of photographs which capture, firsthand, groundbreaking events in modern history. Quarto, original cloth, generously illustrated with photographs throughout. Association copy, warmly inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half title page, “To Gen. Colin Powell, Who has been at the center of many of the eventsContinue reading "Photo Op."

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.