The Federalist, On The New Constitution. By Publius. Written in 1788. To Which is Added, Pacificus, On The Proclamation of Neutrality. Written in 1793. Likewise, The Federal Constitution, With All The Amendments.

Second American edition of The Federalist, "without question the most important commentary on the Constitution, the most significant American contribution to political theory, and among the most important of all American books" (Reese). Octavo, bound in full tree calf with elaborate period-style gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins. marbled endpapers. This is the first edition in which Hamilton, Madison, and Jay are attributed as the original authors in this Preface (though attribution for individual essays were not published until Gideon's 1818 edition) and the last edition to be issued during Hamilton's lifetime (Sabin). "The 1802 edition also identified the authors of The Federalist and what essays they had supposedly written. Clearly edited by Hamilton partisans, it gives more authorial credit to Hamilton than modern scholarship cedes him" (Reese). Housed in a custom matching half tree calf clamshell box with with elaborate period-style gilt tooling to the spine and morocco spine labels lettered in gilt. In very good, contemporary marginalia throughout. An exceptional example of this landmark book.