History, Law, and Politics

Chang, Iris

The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II.

New York : Basic Books, 1997.

First edition of this “powerful, landmark book” (Richard Rhodes). Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Rick Pracher.

Moses, Robert

Working for the People: Promise and Performance in Public Space.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1956.

First edition of this work by the legendary Robert Moses. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Janet Hooper Ostahn, the daughter of an old and valued friend, from Robert Moses.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Foreword by Herbert Bayard Swope. Books signed byContinue reading "Working for the People: Promise and Performance in Public Space."

Polanyi, Karl

The Great Transformation.

New York : Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., 1944.

First edition, first printing of Polanyi’s landmark work, widely considered one of the twentieth century’s most incisive and prophetic works of scholarship. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the scarce original dust jacket which is in very good condition with some chips to the extremities. Scarce and exceedingly so in the original dust jacket.

Webster, Daniel

Daniel Webster Autograph Letter Signed.

1836.

Rare autograph letter signed by one of the most prominent American lawyers of the 19th century, Daniel Webster written in anticipation of the opening of the American west. One page, folded, text in the hand of an amanuensis, the letter stipulates which types of land Webster and Perkins wish the recipient, Joseph R. Williams ofContinue reading "Daniel Webster Autograph Letter Signed."

Baldwin, James

The Fire Next Time.

New York : The Dial Press, 1963.

First edition of one of the most influential works on race relations published in the twentieth century. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing to the extremities. Jacket design by Paul Bacon. An exceptional example.

Victoria, Queen

Queen Victoria Royal Military Appointment Signed.

1898.

Rare large format Royal Military Appointment signed by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. One vellum leaf, partially printed. The document is dated 9th April 1898 and appoints Francis Duncombe Astley-Russell to the position of Quarter Master in Her Majesty’s Land Forces. Boldly signed by Queen Victoria in the upper right corner, “Victoria R.” Retaining the blue RoyalContinue reading "Queen Victoria Royal Military Appointment Signed."

Machiavelli, Niccolo. Translated by Edward Dacres

Machiavels Discourses upon the First Decade of T. Livius translated out of the Italian; With some marginall animadversions noting and taxing his errors. [Machiavelli’s Discourses].

London : Printed for Thomas Paine for William Hills and Daniel Pakeman, 1636.

Rare first edition in English of Machiavelli’s fundamental work of political history and philosophy. 12mo, bound in one quarter morocco over marbled boards with an earlier morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Translated by Edward Dacres. Ownership signature. Rare and desirable.

Roosevelt, Eleanor

When You Grow Up to Vote.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1932.

First edition of Eleanor Roosevelt’s first book, published the same year Franklin Delano Roosevelt won his first presidential election. Octavo, original cloth, with illustrations by Manning de V. Lee. Signed by Eleanor Roosevelt on the front free endpaper. In good condition with some spotting to the cloth. First editions are rare, signed copies exceptionally so,Continue reading "When You Grow Up to Vote."

Clinton, Bill [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]

My Life.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2004.

First edition of President Clinton’s autobiography. Large octavo, original blue boards, illustrated with 32 pages of photographs. Boldly signed on the title page by Bill and Hillary Clinton and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 by President Clinton. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design byContinue reading "My Life."

Schuyler, George S

Black and Conservative: The Autobiography of George S. Schuyler.

New Rochelle, NY : Arlington House Publishers, 1966.

First edition of this work by the Harlem renaissance writer. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Richard Beam from George S. Schuyler 2/17/69.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Purple, N. H. [Abraham Lincoln; William Herndon]

A Compilation of the Statutes of the State of Illinois, of a General Nature, In Force January 1, 1856. Collated with Reference to Decisions of the Supreme Court of Said State, and to Prior Laws Relating to the Same Subject Matter.

Chicago : Published by Keen & Lee, 1856.

First edition of Purple’s Statutes from the law library of Abraham Lincoln and William Herndon. Large octavo, 2 volumes, bound in full contemporary calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt. With Herndon’s ownership signature on behalf of the firm to the front pastedown of Vol. I, “A. Lincoln W. Herndon Lincoln & Herndon Springfield”Continue reading "A Compilation of the Statutes of the State of Illinois, of a General Nature, In Force January 1, 1856. Collated with Reference to Decisions of the Supreme Court of Said State, and to Prior Laws Relating to the Same Subject Matter."

[Livingstone, David]

David Livingstone: The Great Missionary Explorer.

New York : The Walter Scott Publishing Co., Ltd, n.d. c. 1908.

Finely bound example of this anonymous work on the life of David Livingstone. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, frontispiece. In near fineContinue reading "David Livingstone: The Great Missionary Explorer."

Franklin, Benjamin

Mémoires de la Vie Privée de Benjamin Franklin, Écrits Par Lui-Même, et Adressés à Son Fils, Suivis d’un Précis Historique de Sa Vie Politique, et de Plusieurs Pièces, Relatives à Ce Père de la Liberté. [Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin].

A Paris : Chez Buisson, Libraire, 1791.

True first edition of Franklin’s famed autobiography, which preceded the first English edition by two years, in the scarce original wrappers. Octavo, original wrappers, with the original publisher’s paper spine label present. With page 204 misnumbered 360, lacking the three final leaves and rear wrapper. Ownership inscription to the verso of the front wrapper. InContinue reading "Mémoires de la Vie Privée de Benjamin Franklin, Écrits Par Lui-Même, et Adressés à Son Fils, Suivis d’un Précis Historique de Sa Vie Politique, et de Plusieurs Pièces, Relatives à Ce Père de la Liberté. [Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin]."

Williams, George S

The Constitution of The United States. For the Use of Schools and Academies.

Cambridge : Welch, Bigelow, and Company, 1861.

First edition of Williams’ Civil War era printing of the United States Constitution, intended for use in both public schools and private academies. Octavo, original cloth elaborately stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine, gilt American flag and eagle vignette to the front panel. In near fine condition with rubbing to the crownContinue reading "The Constitution of The United States. For the Use of Schools and Academies."

Victoria, Queen

Queen Victoria Royal Military Appointment Signed.

1842.

Rare Royal Military Appointment signed by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. One vellum leaf, partially printed. The document is dated 14th November 1842 and appoints John Aeneas Duncan to the position of Lieutenant in the 29th Regiment on foot. Signed by Queen Victoria in the upper right corner, “Victoria R.” Retaining the white Royal paper seal. InContinue reading "Queen Victoria Royal Military Appointment Signed."

Act of Parliament for Erecting the Bank in Scotland.

Edinburgh : [Royal Bank of Scotland], 1695-1719.

Rare 17th century printing of the Act of the Scottish Parliament erecting the Bank of Scotland. Octavo, original wrappers, the act is dated July 17, 1695 and approved a joint stock amounting to the sum of 120,000 pounds to be raised by a company thereby established to manage the first public bank of Scotland. BoundContinue reading "Act of Parliament for Erecting the Bank in Scotland."

Baxter, Richard

A Treatise of Conversion.

London : Printed by R. W. for Nevel Simmons, 1657.

Rare first edition of this book on conversion by one of the chief pioneers of English Protestantism, and also revered in the United States for his contributions to the cause of evangelism. Octavo, bound in three quarters leather over boards, morocco spine label. In very good condition, owner name to the preliminary blank and heContinue reading "A Treatise of Conversion."

Durant, Will

Caesar and Christ.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1944.

First edition of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on half-title page, “For Martha and Maurice Speiser with cordial regards from Will Durant 12.7.44.” The recipient Maurice Speiser was Ernest Hemingway’s lawyer and literary agent. He was alsoContinue reading "Caesar and Christ."

Houdon, Jean-Antoine. [George Washington]

Jean-Antoine Houdon George Washington Bronze Bust.

.

Fine bronze bust of George Washington, after the famed Houdon bust of 1785 which is considered the most accurate depiction of Washington. Bronze, mounted on a marble pedestal. French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon was revered for his life-like portrayals of numerous notable eighteenth-century philosophers, inventors, and political figures including Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson,Continue reading "Jean-Antoine Houdon George Washington Bronze Bust."

Jones, Mary G. Harris. [Mother Jones]

Autobiography of Mother Jones.

Chicago : Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1925.

First edition of the autobiography of the most famous female labor activist of the nineteenth century, Mother Jones. Octavo, original cloth. Edited by Mary Field Parton. Introduction by Clarence Darrow. In very good condition.