Washington, George

George Washington Letter Signed.

April 10, 1781.

Highly important letter signed (“Go: Washington”), as Commander-in-Chief, 2 pages folio, “Head Quarters New Windsor April 10 [17]81”, to his French ally Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, the body of the letter in the hand of his trusted aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton; horizontal fold separation repaired, minor tears and chips along margins. In theContinue reading "George Washington Letter Signed."

[Franklin, Benjamin]

Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America].

Paris : D. Pierres/Pissot, Pere & Fils, Libraries, 1783.

First French edition of the Constitution of the United States of America, inscribed by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin who had the translation published and personally distributed each of the 600 copies produced. Octavo, bound in one quarter calf with gilt ruling to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed byContinue reading "Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America]."

Grant, Ulysses S. [U.S.] [William Tecumseh Sherman]

General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Annotated Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. [U.S.] Grant.

New York : Charles L. Webster & Company, 1885-86.

Exceedingly rare first edition of the autobiography of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, which focusing mainly on his military career during the Mexican War and the Civil War, entirely singular, owned and annotated by Grant’s close friend and most esteemed general: William Tecumseh Sherman. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in theContinue reading "General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Annotated Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. [U.S.] Grant."

Audubon, John James

The Birds of America, From Drawings Made In The United States And Their Territories.

New York : Published by J. J. Audubon. Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844.

First octavo edition of Audubon’s landmark work; one of the most spectacular collections of ornithological prints ever produced. Royal octavo, 7 volumes bound in full 19th-century morocco by P. Low of Boston with their ticket, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "The Birds of America, From Drawings Made In The United States And Their Territories."

Washington, George

George Washington Autograph Diary Leaf.

[Mount Vernon] March 1762.

Autograph manuscript, being George Washington’s diary entries for a portion of March 1762, detailing the fruit grafts that he has accomplished. 2 pages (5 14/16 x 3 10/16 inches, irregular) on a leaf of laid paper, [Mount Vernon], March 1762; browned, left margin of recto waterstained and abraded causing a loss of text in mostContinue reading "George Washington Autograph Diary Leaf."

[Hamilton, Alexander; James Madison; John Jay]

The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787.

New York : Printed and Sold by J. and A. McLean, 1788.

First edition of The Federalist, one of the rarest and most significant books in American political history. 12mo, two volumes bound into one in half calf over marbled boards with raised bands, gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition with light toning to the pages. Text blocks trimmed. Housed in a custom halfContinue reading "The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787."

The Soldier’s Manual, For Cavalry, Artillery, Light Infantry, and Infantry.

Philadelphia : Published by James H. Nesmith, 1824.

First edition of the first American military color plate book. Quarto, original publisher’s boards, illustrated with twelve plates representing volunteer corps in the first division Pennsylvania militia. In very good condition with the plates exceptionally bright. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare, one of only three known complete copies. This example was heldContinue reading "The Soldier’s Manual, For Cavalry, Artillery, Light Infantry, and Infantry."

[Watson, Elkanah] [George Washington]

Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American.

Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts : Isaiah Thomas, 1790.

First edition, presentation copy of a scarce volume from George Washington’s library at Mount Vernon. Octavo, bound in full contemporary sheep with pine gilt in six compartments within raised bands, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, type-ornament title-page vignette, head and tailpieces. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to George Washington on the frontContinue reading "Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American."

Franklin, Benjamin

Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates.

London : Printed for David Henry; and sold by Francis Newbery, at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1769.

First complete edition of “the most important scientific book of eighteenth-century America” (PMM), inscribed by Benjamin Franklin to prominent Pennsylvania Quaker and merchant Thomas Livezey, Jr. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins. IllustratedContinue reading "Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S. To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. The Whole corrected, methodized, improved, and now first collected into one Volume, and Illustrated with Copper Plates."

Gordon, Thomas [George Washington]

Another Cordial for Low-Spirits. [George Washington’s Copy].

London : R. Griffiths, 1751.

From the library of George Washington of this compilation of political and religious essays regarding contemporary issues in Great Britain. Small octavo, volume two, bound in full contemporary brown calf with a gilt number two and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels,Continue reading "Another Cordial for Low-Spirits. [George Washington’s Copy]."

Lincoln, Abraham

Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen Douglas, In the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois.

Columbus : Follett, Foster and Company, 1860.

First edition, first issue of the most famous debates in American history which cemented Lincoln as a national presidential candidate; inscribed by Lincoln in pencil to close friend Martin S. Morris and accompanied by the table from the Morris household that Lincoln signed the book on. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind. First issue, withContinue reading "Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen Douglas, In the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois."