History, Law, and Politics

Spielberg, Steven. Photographs by David James; [Tom Hanks]

Saving Private Ryan: A Film by Steven Spielberg.

New York : Newmarket Press, 1999.

First edition of the illustrated book companion to the Academy Award-winning film. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated with photographs by David James. Presentation copy, inscribed by Steven Spielberg on the front panel, “Bill, Remember when… Steven Spielberg” and additionally inscribed by Tom Hanks, “To Bill, Peace. Forever. Tom Hanks.” In fine condition. Mounted and framed.Continue reading "Saving Private Ryan: A Film by Steven Spielberg."

Hamilton, Alexander. [James Kent]

The Examination of the President’s Message at the Opening of Congress December 7, 1801.

Printed and Published at the Office of the New York Evening Post : New York, 1802.

First separate edition of Hamilton’s analysis of Jefferson’s first Annual Message to Congress which first appeared in the Evening Post, under the signature of Lucius Crassus. Howes H112. Octavo, bound in quarter morocco. Association copy, from the library of American jurist James Kent with his ownership signature to the title page. American jurist, New YorkContinue reading "The Examination of the President’s Message at the Opening of Congress December 7, 1801."

James, William

A Full and Correct Account of the Chief Naval Occurrences of the Late War Between Great Britain and The United States of America; Preceded by a Cursory Examination of the American Accounts of Their Naval Actions Fought Previous to That Period.

London : Printed for T. Egerton, 1817.

First edition of James’ naval history of the War of 1812, which inspired Theodore Roosevelt’s account from the American perspective: The Naval War of 1812. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt ruling to the spine and panels, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, rebacked. In very good condition.

Lincoln, Abraham

Abraham Lincoln Amnesty Proclamation and Signed Pardon of December 8, 1863.

Washington, D.C. : War Department, Adjutant General's Office, 1864-1869.

Rare autograph Oath of December 8 endorsement signed and entirely in the hand of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln with an exceedingly rare contemporary printing of Lincoln’s Amnesty Proclamation which includes the wording of the oath itself and a rare carte-de-visite of Lincoln [Providence, RI: Salisbury, Bro. & Co., n.d.]. OneContinue reading "Abraham Lincoln Amnesty Proclamation and Signed Pardon of December 8, 1863."

Billings, John D

Hardtack and Coffee or The Unwritten Story of Army Life.

Boston : George M. Smith & Co, 1887.

First edition of Billings’ classic Civil War memoir. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with six color plates and over two hundred sketches by Charles W. Reed. In very good condition. First editions are rare.

Johnson, Boris

The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History.

London : Hodder & Stoughton, 2014.

First edition of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s work on the the life and character of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Boldly signed by Boris Johnson on the half-title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Leaves From A Trooper’s Diary.

Philadelphia : Published by the Author, 1869.

First edition of an Anderson Cavalry officer’s Civil War memoir. Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt. In good condition. Rare.

Bickham, William Dennison

Rosecrans’ Campaign with the Fourteenth Army Corps, of the Army of the Cumberland: A Narrative of Personal Observations, with a Appendix, Consisting of Official Reports of the Battle of Stone River.

Cincinnati : Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co, Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co..

First edition of William Dennison Bickham’s Civil War memoir. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. In good condition. Ex-library.

Parker, William Harwar

Recollections of a Naval Officer 1841-1865.

New York : Charles Scribners Sons, 1883.

Coffin, Charles Carleton

Freedom Triumphant: The Fourth Period of the War of the Rebellion From September 1864, To Its Close.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1891.

First edition of the acclaimed journalist’s work on the fourth period of the Civil War. Octavo, original cloth decorated in gilt, illustrated. In very good condition.

Lewis, George Cornewall

Remarks on The Use and Abuse of Some Political Terms.

London : B. Fellowes, 1832.

First edition of Cornewall Lewis’ classic work. Octavo, original boards. From the library of American journalist William Safire, although not marked. William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He joined Nixon’s campaign for the 1960 Presidential race, and again in 1968. After Nixon’s 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriterContinue reading "Remarks on The Use and Abuse of Some Political Terms."

Chetlain, Augustus L

Recollections of Seventy Years.

Galena : The Gazette Publishing Company, 1899.

First edition of Major General Chetlain’s Civil War memoir. Octavo, original cloth, patterned endpapers, frontispiece portrait. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Eugene F. Estey Esg. with the best wishes of the author.” In near fine condition. Uncommon in this condition and signed.

Young, Jesse Bowman

What A Boy Saw in the Army: A Story of Sight-Seeing and Adventure in the War for the Union.

New York : Hunt & Eaton, 1894.

First edition of Young’s account of his experiences as a soldier boy in the armies of the Union. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. In very good condition.

Castleman, Alfred L

The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B. McClellan, to the Close of the Campaign in Virginia, About the First Day of January, 1863.

Milwaukee : Published by Strickland & Co., 1863.

First edition of the Civil War memoir of Alfred L. Castleman, Surgeon of the Fifth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition. A nice example.

[Mayo, Winifred]

The Idler: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine. Vol. 33. April 1908 to September 1908.

London : The Idler Magazine, 1908.

First edition of Vol. 33 of The Idler, containing the first appearance of Winifred Mayo’s Prison Experiences of a Suffragette. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over pebbled boards, illustrated. A supporter of women’s suffrage, Winifred Mayo joined the Kensington branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1907. Soon afterwards she wasContinue reading "The Idler: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine. Vol. 33. April 1908 to September 1908."

The Englishwoman. Volume XIV. April-June 1912.

London : Sidgwick & Jackson, Ltd, 1912.

First edition of of Volume XIV of the Englishwoman’s Review, one of the first feminist journals published. Octavo, original cloth. In very good condition.

Strachey, Ray

“The Cause” A Short History of The Women’s Movement in Great Britain.

London : G. Bell and Sons, Ltd, 1928.

First edition of Strachey’s history of women’s suffrage in Great Britain. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece portrait of Millicent Fawcett. In good condition. Ownership name.

Stephens, Alexander H

A Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States; It’s Causes, Character, Conduct and Results. Presented in a Series of Colloquies at Liberty Hall.

Philadelphia : National Publishing Company, 1868.

First edition of the “most elaborate—and best—argument for the constitutional validity of the doctrine of state sovereignty and the right of secession” (Howes), featuring 16 full-page steel engraved portraits, several facsimiles and a map of Manassas. Octavo, two volumes bound in full cloth with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, illustrated with 16 full-page steelContinue reading "A Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States; It’s Causes, Character, Conduct and Results. Presented in a Series of Colloquies at Liberty Hall."

Penrose, Barrie and Simon Freeman. [Sally Soames]

Conspiracy of Silence: The Secret Life of Anthony Blunt.

London : Grafton Books, 1986.

First edition of Penrose and Freeman’s detailed biography of Anthony Blunt. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by both authors on the front free endpaper, “November 1986. To Sally – a fine photographer and colleague. You buy my book – I’ll buy yours. Love, Simon Freeman” and “How can I beat that! Luv, BarrieContinue reading "Conspiracy of Silence: The Secret Life of Anthony Blunt."

Vidal, Gore

1876: A Novel.

New York : Random House, 1976.

First edition of this classic novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the “Kit love Gore.” The recipient, Katherine “Kit” Vidal was Eugene Vidal’s second wife; he married her in 1939 when she was a 20 year old model with the Powers Agency, only six years older than Gore. Near fine inContinue reading "1876: A Novel."

Clinton, Bill [William Jefferson]

Giving: How Each Of Us Can Change The World.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2007.

First edition of this inspiring look at how each of us can change the world. Octavo, blue boards. Boldly signed by Bill Clinton on the title page. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Carol Devine Carson.

Churchill, Winston S

An Address by The Rt. Hon Winston S. Churchill Prime Minister of Great Britain December 26th 1941.

Stamford Connecticut : The Overbrook Press, 1942.

Rare first edition of Churchill’s historic address delivered before Congress on December 26th 1941. Octavo, original boards. One of on thousand copies printed. In near fine condition.

Arlent-Edwards, Samuel

Samuel Arlent-Edwards Signed Izaak Walton Mezzotint Portrait.

c. 1898.

Rare mezzotint print of Samuel Arlent-Edwards’ portrait of Izaak Walton, inscribed by the artist. Folio, color mezzotint. Inscribed by Samuel Arlent-Edwards in the lower right corner, “Engraved and printed in color at one printing without retouching Samuel Arlent-Edwards.” In very good condition. The print measures 14.75 inches by 12 inches. Housed in a custom halfContinue reading "Samuel Arlent-Edwards Signed Izaak Walton Mezzotint Portrait."

Uzanne, Octave

La Femme A Paris: Nos Contemporaines.

Paris : Ancienne Maison Quantin, 1894.

First edition of this lavishly illustrated work on Parisian women. Quarto, bound in full morocco, original wrappers bound in, illustrated with 20 hand-colored engraved plates by Massé after Vidal, engraved illustrations throughout, original wrappers bound in. In near fine condition. In the original embroidered dust jacket. Housed in a custom folding clamshell case.