History, Law, and Politics

Lytton, Constance

Prisons & Prisoners: Some Personal Experiences by Constance Lytton and Jane Walton, Spinster.

London : William Heinemann, 1914.

First edition of the remarkable autobiography of the aristocratic suffragette Constance Lytton, recounting her remarkable masquerade and imprisonment as the working-class seamstress “Jane Warton.” Octavo, original publisher’s purple cloth with WSPU motif by Sylvia Pankhurst to the front panel, illustrated with two portraits including tissue-guarded frontispiece of Lytton. In very good condition. Ownership inscription. Rare.

Valenti, Jack. [William Safire]

A Very Human President.

New York : W.W. Norton & Compan Inc, 1975.

First edition of Valenti’s intimate biography of Lyndon Johnson. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs. Association copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Bill Safire – a wise and eloquent ‘old pro’ – and me dear and valued friend Jack Valenti.” The recipient, William Safire was an important American author,Continue reading "A Very Human President."

Salinger, Pierre [John F. Kennedy]

A Tribute to John F. Kennedy.

Chicago : Encyclopedia Britannica Inc, 1964.

First edition of this tribute to President Kennedy. Octavo, original boards, original slipcase, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Allan Sherman with the sincere appreciation of his friend and admirer Pierre Salinger.” The recipient, Allan Sherman was actor, singer, producer and writer who became known as a song parodistContinue reading "A Tribute to John F. Kennedy."

Klein, Gerda Weissman

All But My Life.

New York : Hill & Wang, 1957.

First edition of the author’s “moving personal testament to courage” memoir. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Thomas Kaufman with thanks for your work in this whole course! All my good wished Gerda W. Klein Apr. 1962.” With a letter from Ms. Klein’s assistant statingContinue reading "All But My Life."

Opinions of Women on Women’s Suffrage.

London : Central Committee of the National Society For Women's Suffrage, 1879.

First edition of this collection of Opinions on Women’s Suffrage, compiled by the Central Committee of the National Society For Women’s Suffrage and containing the opinions of English women in official positions, scientific and political careers, and principals of colleges and high schools among others. Octavo, disbound. In very good condition.

Balfour, Arthur James

Speech In The House of Commons on Women’s Suffrage.

London : Published by The Central Society For Women's Suffrage, [c.1892].

Rare printing of Lord Balfour’s speech supporting the Women’s Franchise Bill, which proposed extending the parliamentary vote to women. Octavo, original wrappers. In near fine condition.

Stead, William Thomas [Editor]

The Review of Reviews. Vol IV. July-December. 1891.

London : The "Review of Reviews", 1891.

The July-December 1891 issue of of Stead’s The Review of Reviews. Octavo, original publisher’s binding, illustrated, advertisements, index. In very good condition.

Blind, Mathilde. [Emily Duval]

Madame Roland.

London : W. H. Allen & Co, 1886.

The Eminent Women Series edition of Blind’s biography of French revolutionary Marie-Jeanne ‘Manon’ Roland de la Platière. Octavo, original publisher’s decorated cloth, patterned endpapers. From the library of English suffragette Emily H. Duval with her ownership signature to the half-title page. English suffragette Emily Duval was a militant petitioner in the fight for women’s votingContinue reading "Madame Roland."

Gross, Edward Augustus and Homer Joseph Dodge

Manual For Women Voters.

New York : Federal Trade Information Service, 1922.

First edition of this introductory manual for newly enfranchised American women following the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable.

Alsop, Stewart

The Center: People and Power in Political Washington.

New York, Evanston, and London : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1968.

First edition of American journalist Stewart Alsop’s vivid portrait of political Washington. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Dear Helene – Bill tells me you even got through the Supreme Court… which is more than I could ever do Best, Stew Alsop.” The recipient, William Safire, wasContinue reading "The Center: People and Power in Political Washington."

Macphail, Andrew

Essays in Fallacy.

New York, Bombay, and Calcutta : Longmans, Green and Co, 1910.

First edition of Macphail’s essay on the psychology of the suffragette. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Uncommon in this condition.

Fulford, Roger

Votes For Women: The Story of Struggle.

London : Readers Union/Faber and Faber, 1958.

Reader’s Union edition of Fulford’s work on the UK women’s suffrage movement. Octavo, original cloth. English journalist, historian, writer and politician Roger Fulford authored several important biographies and other works. Between 1964 and 1981 he edited five volumes of letters between Queen Victoria and the Princess Royal. He was President of the Liberal Party fromContinue reading "Votes For Women: The Story of Struggle."

Cobbe, Frances Power

Why Women Desire The Franchise.

London : Spottiswoode & Co., Printers, 1869.

First edition of prolific Anglo-Irish suffragette Frances Power Cobbe’s feminist treatise. Octavo, bound in half morocco over marbled boards with gilt ruling to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Accompanied by an original albumen carte-de-visite of Frances Power Cobbe by Philip Crellin signed by her. In near fine condition. Library stamp toContinue reading "Why Women Desire The Franchise."

Masefield, John

My Faith in Woman Suffrage.

: The Woman's Press, [1910].

First edition of the English Poet Laureate’s speech delivered in the Queens Hall, February 14th, 1910. Octavo, original wrappers. In near fine condition.

Hamilton, Alexander

Alexander Hamilton Treasury Department Circular Signed.

March 30, 1793.

Partially printed United States Treasury Department circular signed by Alexander Hamilton as the first secretary of the treasury. Folio, partially printed, the document is dated March 30th 1793 addressed to Henry Marchant, Judge of the Rhode Island District Court. The document reads in full: Sir, I take the liberty to inform you, that the President,Continue reading "Alexander Hamilton Treasury Department Circular Signed."

Phillips, Mary

The Militant Suffrage Campaign in Perspective.

London : Latimer Trend & Co, [1957].

Rare first edition of Mary Phillips’ personal account of the militant suffragette movement. Octavo, original wrappers. Foreword by the Right Hon. Lord Pethick-Lawrence. Mary Elizabeth Phillips joined the radical Women’s Social & Political Union in 1907 and established a Glasgow branch of the WSPU. In March 1908 she was sentenced to six weeks in HollowayContinue reading "The Militant Suffrage Campaign in Perspective."

Victor, Orville J

The History, Civil, Political & Military of the Southern Rebellion, From its Incipient Stages to its Close.

New York : James D. Torrey, Publisher, [1861].

Complete first edition set of one of the earliest histories of the American Civil War. Octavo, four volumes, original publisher’s full pebbled morocco decorated in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, illustrated with steel engraved plates, additional vignette title pages. frontispieces, and maps. In good condition. A rare complete set, we have never seen anotherContinue reading "The History, Civil, Political & Military of the Southern Rebellion, From its Incipient Stages to its Close."

X. [Smedley, Constance]; Appendix by Mrs. Philip Snowden [Ethel Snowden]

Woman: A Few Shrieks!

Letchworth Herts : Garden City Press, [1907].

First edition of Constance Smedley’s rare feminist tract, published under the pseudonym X and with an appendix by Ethel Snowden. Octavo, original cloth, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers. Appendix by Ethel Snowden. In good condition. Stamps throughout including to the front and rear panels and top edge. Bookplates to the pastedown.

Stevens, Charles Augustus

The Battle of Gettysburg. 1863, From “Sharpshooting and Skirmishing,” (By the Berdan Sharpshooters.) In the Army of the Potomac.

Shakopee, MN 1890.

First separate edition of Captain C.A. Stevens’ account of the The Battle of Gettysburg. Octavo, original wrappers. In very good condition. Scarce.

Colmore, G. [Gertrude Baillie-Weaver; Emily Duval]

The Life of Emily Davison.

Kingsway, W.C. : The Woman's Press, 1913.

First edition of Gertrude Colmore’s brief biography of Emily Wilding Davison. Octavo, original publisher’s wrappers, frontispiece portrait of Davison. Association copy, from the library of fellow English suffragette Emily Duval with her ownership inscription, “Emily D. Duvall Given to her by Mrs. Green Dec. 17th 1913.” Like Davison, Emily Duval was a militant petitioner in theContinue reading "The Life of Emily Davison."

Churchill, Winston S

Geschichte. [A History of the English-Speaking Peoples].

Bern, Switzerland : Alfred Scherz Verlag, 1956-1958.

First Swiss editions of each of the four volumes of this set of Churchill’s classic history. Octavo, original cloth, 4 volumes, illustrated from maps and diagrams. Boldly signed in volume two by Winston Churchill on the the half -title page. From the library of Emery Reves. Reves contributed greatly to orienting the work toward a widerContinue reading "Geschichte. [A History of the English-Speaking Peoples]."

Muhammad, Elijah

Elijah Muhammad Signed First Day Cover.

1965.

First Day Cover honoring the Salvation Army, boldly signed by Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, postmarked New York, NY July 2, 1965. In near fine condition. Autographs of Muhammad are rare. 

Stevens, Mark [Oliver Stone]

The Insiders: The Truth Behind the Scandal Rocking Wall Street.

New York 1987.

First edition of this work on Wall Street, from the library of Oliver Stone, with his numerous pen markings, underlinings ticks, crosses and annotations, “Rewrite – Charlie talking about Gekko.” Oliver Stone‘s iconic film Wall Street, first screened on 13 December 1987, starring Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah and Michael Douglas in his Academy Award winning role asContinue reading "The Insiders: The Truth Behind the Scandal Rocking Wall Street."

Franklin, Benjamin

Oeuvres.

Paris : Chez Quillau, Esprit, et l'Auteur, 1773.

First French edition of Franklin’s complete works on electricity, based on the fourth and best British edition. Quarto, two volumes bound in one, contemporary calf, illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin in his study and twelve full-page plates. In very good condition. Uncommon.