History, Law, and Politics

Kirkwood, James

American Grotesque: An Account of the Clay Shaw-Jim Garrison Affair in the City of New Orleans.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1970.

First edition of this detailed journalistic account of the investigation and trial conducted by New Orleans DA Jim Garrison against businessman Clay Shaw. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, top stain blue, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by James Kirkwood on the front free endpaper. Fine in a very good dust jacket. JacketContinue reading "American Grotesque: An Account of the Clay Shaw-Jim Garrison Affair in the City of New Orleans."

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). Near fine in a very good dust jacket with a few small losses and closed tearsContinue reading "The Mathematical Theory of Communication."

Toll, Ian W.

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy.

New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 2006.

First edition of this “fluent, intelligent history…give[s] the reader a feel for the human quirks and harsh demands of life at sea” (New York Times Book Review). Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Ian Toll on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Wes Youssi.

Black, Charles L., Jr. [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]

St. John’s Law Review; “One Nation Indivisible”: Unnamed Human Rights in the United States.

St. John's University, New York : St. John's Law Review, 1991.

Original Winter 1991 offprint of the St. John’s Law Review containing Charles L. Black, Jr.’s “One Nation Indivisible”: Unnamed Human Rights in the United States. Octavo, original wrappers, St. John’s Law Review Volume 65, Winter 1991, Number 1. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front wrapper, “For the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, withContinue reading "St. John’s Law Review; “One Nation Indivisible”: Unnamed Human Rights in the United States."

Black, Charles L. Jr. [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]

The Yale Law Journal: “And Our Posterity.”

New Haven, Connecticut : The Yale Law Journal Co., Inc., 1993.

Original May 1993 offprint of The Yale Law Journal containing Charles L. Black, Jr.’s “And Our Posterity.”  Octavo, original wrappers, The Yale Law Journal Volume 102, May 1993, Number 7. Inscribed by the author on the front wrapper, “For the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with all best wishes! Charles Black, New York 29 October, 1993.” TheContinue reading "The Yale Law Journal: “And Our Posterity.”"

Lewis, Michael

Liar’s Poker.

New York : W.W. Norton & Company, 1989.

First edition, early printing of the author’s classic first book. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Kathleen Thanks for the interview! Michael Lewis.” Fine in a near fineprice-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Andrew M. Newman Graphic Design Inc. Jacket illustration by Vint Lawrence. An exceptionalContinue reading "Liar’s Poker."

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.

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.