History, Law, and Politics

Paine, Thomas

Dissertations on Government, the Affairs of the Bank, and Paper Money.

London : Printed by W.T. Sherwin, 1817.

First British edition of Paine’s defense of the Bank of North America. Small octavo, bound in modern wrappers. In near fine condition with light toning to the extremities.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly and A Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Boston and Cleveland : John P. Jewett and Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852.

First edition, first issue of the author’s classic work. Octavo, original cloth, volume with title vignettes and six wood-engravings. In very good condition. With a rare carte-de-visite and note card signed “truly yours HB Stowe.” Comes with a first edition of Stowe’s A Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, published in 1853. Housed in a customContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly and A Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin."

Speed, F. Maurice [Walt Disney]

Film Review.

London : Macdonald and Co, 1939.

First edition of this overview of Hollywood. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Signed on the front pastedown and endpapers by Walt Disney and 13 other Hollywood actors and actresses, including, Chico Marx “To Pat Sincerely Chico Marx”; Pat O’Brien; “To Pat my own namesake  Love Pat O’Brien Nov 21, 1947; Deborah Kerr, “I see a dark Stranger”Continue reading "Film Review."

Harrer, Heinrich [His Holiness The Dalai Lama]

Seven Years in Tibet.

New York : E.P. Dutton & Company, 1954.

First American edition of Harrer’s classic account, signed by Harrer and The Dalai Lama. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with over 40 photographs. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by Heinrich Harrer in both English and Tibetan on the half-title page, “To Mrs. Rosser with best wishes in remembrance of my lecture in Philadelphia from H. HarrerContinue reading "Seven Years in Tibet."

Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them].

Lausanne : J.P. Heubach & Cie, 1784.

First edition of this work, translated as, Of Balloons Aerostatic, the Way to Build Them, Elevate Them. Octavo, bound in contemporary three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine and gilt balloon tooling in 4 compartments, marbled endpapers. This work is often wrongly attributed to Faujas de Saint-Fond, as it reprints his “DiscoursContinue reading "Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them]."

British Sports and Sportsmen: Yachting and Rowing.

London : British Sports and Sportsmen, 1916.

First edition, limited to 1,000 examples. Folio, bound in original full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, raised bands, numerous photogravure portraits. This lavishly-produced survey of large and small boat racing, cruising, and rowing, includes biographies of prominent yachtsmen, and includes descriptions of the America’s Cup and single-handedContinue reading "British Sports and Sportsmen: Yachting and Rowing."

Heckman, James J. and Burton Singer

Longitudinal Analysis of Labor Market Data.

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1985.

First edition of this important contribution to the field of longitudinal analysis. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To John Rogers With Respect Jim Heckman 9/18/15.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Truman, Harry S

Mr. Citizen.

New York : Bernard Geis, 1960.

First edition, early printing of this collection of articles written by President Truman after leaving the White House. Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed on the half-title page, “To Theodore R Racoosin from Harry Truman Kind regards.” The recipient, Theodore Racoosin was a noted Jewish leader, whoContinue reading "Mr. Citizen."

Bagehot, Walter

The English Constitution.

London : Kegan Paul, Trench & Co, 1882.

Early printing of Bagehot’s analysis of the constitution of the United Kingdom. Octavo, bound in full vellum with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, armorial gilt devices to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges red. In very good condition.

Christensen, Lars

Such Is The Antarctic.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1935.

First edition of Norwegian Antarctic explorer Lars Christensen’s account of his Antarctic voyages between 1930 and 1934. Quarto, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece portrait of the author, illustrated with 44 plates and one folding map. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator SteveContinue reading "Such Is The Antarctic."

Yule, Colonel Henry

The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East.

London : John Murray, 1871.

First edition of Yule’s important work which correlated Polo’s travels with their present-day locations. Octavo, two volumes. Bound in full morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruling and vignettes to the front panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, patterned endpapers, with maps and engravedContinue reading "The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East."

Bull, Henrik Johan

The Cruise of the ‘Antarctic’ to the South Polar Regions.

London : Edward Arnold, 1896.

First edition of Antarctic pioneer Henrik Johan Bull’s account of his voyage aboard the steamship ‘Antarctic’ in search of the elusive Right whale which, arguably, put the first men on the continent. Octavo, original pictorial cloth with gilt titles to the spine, gilt vignette of the ‘Antarctic’ to the front panel, frontispiece by W.L. WyllieContinue reading "The Cruise of the ‘Antarctic’ to the South Polar Regions."

Byron, Robert

The Road to Oxiana.

London : Macmillan & Company, 1937.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, 15 plates and a map. From the library of Henry Alexander Nesbitt Medd. Medd, who was an architect and best-known for his collaboration with fellow architects, Edwin Luytens and Herbert Baker, in designing New Delhi. He remained in India and in 1939-47 held the roleContinue reading "The Road to Oxiana."

Menand, Louis

The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America.

New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2001.

First edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to fellow Pulitzer Prize award winning author Edward O. Wilson, “For Edward with best wishes Louis Menand.” Wilson’s signature to the front free endpaper, near fine in a near dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America."

Meadowcroft, William H. [Thomas A. Edison]

The Boy’s Life of Edison.

New York and London : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1911.

First edition of Meadowcroft’s biography of Thomas Edison, written for children. Octavo, original cloth with paper label portrait of Edison to the front panel, illustrated with eight photographic portraits of Edison including tissue-guarded frontispiece. With Edison’s autobiographical notes. Boldly signed on the second free endpaper, “Thomas A. Edison.” In very good condition. First printings areContinue reading "The Boy’s Life of Edison."

Howitt, Peter [John Maynard Keynes]

The Keynesian Recovery and Other Essays.

Ann Arbor : The University of Michigan Press, 1990.

First edition of Howitt’s collected essays analyzing Keynesian and Walrasian economics. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “John with best wishes Peter Howitt.” Laid in is an additional note inscribed by the author which reads, “12/9/14 John, With best wishes and many thanks for the kind words.Continue reading "The Keynesian Recovery and Other Essays."

Hayek, Friedrich A. [F.A.]

Geldtheorie Und Konjunkturtheorie. [Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle].

Wein und Leipzig : Holder-Pichler-Tempsky A.G, 1929.

Scarce first edition of Hayek’s first book, published four years later in English as Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle. Octavo, original wrappers. In very good condition. Period ownership inscription. Scarce.

Addams, Jane

Jane Addams Signed Photograph and Autograph Letter.

Chicago : Hull House, 1929.

Rare original letter signed and entirely in the hand of Jane Addams, presented with an original photograph also signed by her. On Hull House letterhead, the letter reads, “My dear Mr. Miller, I am very glad to send you one of my books… Faithfully yours Jane Addams May 2d 1929.” In near fine condition. DoubleContinue reading "Jane Addams Signed Photograph and Autograph Letter."

Johnson, Rebekah Baines. Introduction by Lyndon B. Johnson

A Family Album.

New York : McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1965.

First edition of this work documenting Lyndon B. Johnson’s family tree, prepared for him by his mother as a Christmas present to her son. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Introduction by Lyndon Baines Johnson. Association copy, inscribed by Lyndon B. Johnson on the dedication page, “To Jack and Leota Horner from your friend and admirerContinue reading "A Family Album."

Mooney, Booth. With a foreword by Lyndon B. Johnson

The Lyndon Johnson Story.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1956.

First edition of Booth Mooney’s biography of Lyndon B. Johnson. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by Lyndon B. Johnson on the front free endpaper, “To Ray Luhn with gratitude and admiration from his friend Lyndon B. Johnson.” Near fine in near fine dust jacket.