House of Commons

An Abstract of the Evidence Delivered Before a Select Committee of the House of Commons in the Years 1790, and 1791; On the Part of the Petitioners for the Abolition of the Slave-Trade.

London : Printed by James Phillips, George Yard, 1791.

Rare first edition of eye-witness testimony on the horrors of the British slave trade, containing for the first time in book form the famous large folding wood-engraving of slaves packed onto the decks of the slave-ship Brookes, intended as a gruesome test of the “humane” Dolben Bill of 1788. Octavo, contemporary full diced polished brownContinue reading "An Abstract of the Evidence Delivered Before a Select Committee of the House of Commons in the Years 1790, and 1791; On the Part of the Petitioners for the Abolition of the Slave-Trade."

Tesla, Nikola

Nikola Tesla Autograph Letter Signed.

1904.

Rare autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of brilliant inventor, Nikola Tesla. Duodecimo, on personal monogram letterhead, dated November 16, 1904. The letter reads in full, “My dear Prof. Osborn, Please accept and transmit to all of your family my warm felicitations. Looking to the pleasure of personal acquaintance Yours sincerely, N.Continue reading "Nikola Tesla Autograph Letter Signed."

Walesa, Lech

A Way of Hope: An Autobiography.

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 1987.

First edition of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Lech Walesa on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Taylor, Telford

The Breaking Wave: The Second World War in the Summer of 1940.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1967.

First edition of this historical work told from the German perspective on the critical turning point of WWII when a victorious Germany failed to defeat Great Britain. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with a facsimile Telford Taylor signature to the front panel, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in theContinue reading "The Breaking Wave: The Second World War in the Summer of 1940."

Murdock, Luke S.; Drawings by E. J. Geske

Palm Beach and West Palm Beach: The Palm Beaches “Where Summer Spends the Winter.”

West Palm Beach, Florida : Long & Murdock, 1926.

First edition of this beautifully produced artograph of the Palm Beaches and their most iconic landmarks. Quarto, original wrappers with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, watercolor inlay of downtown West Palm Beach to the front panel, illustrated title page with tissue guard, copiously illustrated by E. J. Geske. In good condition.

Dayan, Lt Yael

A Soldier’s Diary: Sinai 1967.

England : Penguin Books, 1969.

The Penguin Books edition of this firsthand account of the Six Day War written in just two weeks by Lieutenant Yael Dayan. Duodecimo, original pictorial wrappers. In very good condition. Cover design by David Pelham and Ivan Holmes.

[Lin-Manuel Miranda] [Alexander Hamilton]

Lin Manuel Miranda Signed Ten Dollar Bill.

2017.

Series 2017A United States ten-dollar Federal Reserve Note featuring Alexander Hamilton signed and with an added drawing by the creator and original star of the Broadway musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda has emphasized Hamilton’s mouth with a large open smile in black sharpie. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and original star of Hamilton, brought Alexander HamiltonContinue reading "Lin Manuel Miranda Signed Ten Dollar Bill."

Wiesel, Elie

Open Heart.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.

First edition of this profoundly intimate, deeply affecting summing up of life so far, from one of the most cherished moral voices of all time. Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Elie Wiesel on the front free endpaper. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Chip Kidd. Translated from the French by MarionContinue reading "Open Heart."

Ferguson, Niall

The Ascent of Money.

New York : The Penguin Press, 2008.

First edition of this original look at the origins of money and how it makes the world go round, destined to become a modern classic. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Niall Ferguson on the title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.

Katzmann, Robert A. [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]

New York University Law Review. Madison Lecture: Statutes.

New York : New York University Law Review, 2012.

Original June 2012 offprint of the New York University Law Review containing Robert A. Katzmann’s Madison Lecture: Statutes. Octavo, original publisher’s wrappers, volume 87, number 3. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the verso of the front panel, “For Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with deep appreciation for so much, Yours, Bob, August 25, 2012.” The recipient, Ruth BaderContinue reading "New York University Law Review. Madison Lecture: Statutes."

Shapiro, David L. [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]

Wrong Turns: The Eleventh Amendment and the Pennhurst Case.

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The Harvard Law Review Association, 1984.

Original November 1984 offprint Harvard Law Review containing David L. Shapiro’s “Wrong Turns: The Eleventh Amendment and the Pennhurst Case.” Octavo, original publisher’s wrappers, Volume 98, Number 1. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front wrapper, “For Ruth, With all best regards, David.”  The recipient, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, served as an associate justice ofContinue reading "Wrong Turns: The Eleventh Amendment and the Pennhurst Case."

Katzmann, Robert A. [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]

Induction Proceedings for Robert A. Katzmann.

New York : United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1999.

Original offprint of the “proceedings held on the occasion of the induction of Honorable Robert A. Katzmann as United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.” Octavo, original wrappers, dated October 25, 1999. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front wrapper, “For Ruth & Marty, with continuingContinue reading "Induction Proceedings for Robert A. Katzmann."

Buergenthal, Thomas; Foreword by Elie Wiesel

A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy.

New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2009.

First edition of this “incredible tale” (The Free Lance-Star). Octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Elie Wiesel at his foreword. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Foreword by Elie Wiesel. Jacket design by Keith Hayes. We have never seen another one signed by Wiesel.

Mill, John Stuart

The Subjection of Women.

London : Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1869.

First edition of Mill’s classic work defending the rights of women. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth by Edmonds & Remnants with their ticket to the rear pastedown. In good condition with losses to the spine. Bookseller’s ticket to the front pastedown of S & T Gilbert.

Nixon, Richard

Real Peace: A Strategy for the West.

New York : Privately Printed for Richard Nixon, 1983.

The privately printed limited first edition of Nixon’s fifth book. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine. One of 1,000 copies. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Sherry Griner with appreciation for her loyal support over the years – from Richard Nixon 12-30-87.” Fine in a veryContinue reading "Real Peace: A Strategy for the West."

Biden, Joe

Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics.

New York : Random House, 2007.

First edition of “this compelling personal story” (The New York Times). Octavo, original boards, illustrated. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “Jimmy – I met Paddy – you got ‘good blood’ as my Dad would say Joe Biden 8.18.07.” Fine in a near fine dustContinue reading "Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics."

Acts of the First General Assembly of the State of Missouri; Passed at the First Session, which was Begun and Held at the Town of Saint Louis…1820. [and] Acts of the First General Assembly of the State of Missouri; Passed at the Special Session, Began and Held at the Town of St. Charles…1821.

St. Louis / St. Charles : Isaac N. Henry / St. Charles, 1820-1821.

First editions of the first official printing of the Acts of Missouri’s 1820 First General Assembly and 1821 Special Session, two rare works marking a turning point in the constitutional and sectional fury over slavery that triggered the First Missouri Compromise and the Second Missouri Compromise (1820-21). Octavo, two volumes, bound in full modern brownContinue reading "Acts of the First General Assembly of the State of Missouri; Passed at the First Session, which was Begun and Held at the Town of Saint Louis…1820. [and] Acts of the First General Assembly of the State of Missouri; Passed at the Special Session, Began and Held at the Town of St. Charles…1821."

Adams, Nehemiah

A South-Side View of Slavery; Or, Three Months at the South, in 1854.

Boston : T.R. Marvin and B.B. Mussey & Co, 1854.

First edition of the Boston clergyman’s notorious defense of slavery published after a brief trip to the South, challenging the veracity of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Octavo, original intricate blind-stamped brown cloth with gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition, signature to the front endpaper.

Van Evrie, John H

Negroes and Negro “Slavery:” The First an Inferior Race: The Latter its Normal Condition.

New York : Van Evrie, Horton & Co, 1861.

First edition of this vehemently proslavery work by the New York physician who attacks the “great ‘Anti-Slavery’ delusion'” of Wilberforce and others, published the year the nation erupted into civil war. Octavo, original publisher’s brown cloth with gilt titles to the spine, quadruple ruling stamped in blind to the front and rear panels, tissue-guarded frontispiece,Continue reading "Negroes and Negro “Slavery:” The First an Inferior Race: The Latter its Normal Condition."

Aristotle. Translated by William Ellis

A Treatise on Government. Translated From The Greek of Aristotle.

London : Printed for T. Payne, at the Mew Gate; B. White, in Fleet-street; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1776.

First edition in English of Aristotle’s’ enormously influential work on government, the only edition in the English language published during the 18th century. 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. In good condition. AContinue reading "A Treatise on Government. Translated From The Greek of Aristotle."

Conway, Moncure Daniel

Testimonies Concerning Slavery.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1864.

First edition of Conway’s powerful abolitionist work, published only one year after he left America at the height of the Civil War to continue his fight against slavery in England. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth rebacked with original spine laid down, gilt titles to the spine and front panel, floral ruling stamped in blind toContinue reading "Testimonies Concerning Slavery."

Sumner, Charles

The Anti-Slavery Enterprise: its Necessity, Practicability, and Dignity, With Glimpses at the Special Duties of the North. An Address before the People of New York, At the Metropolitan Theatre, May 9, 1855.

Boston : Ticknor and Fields, 1855.

Rare first separate edition of one of the most famous speeches by Sumner, “the most outspoken foe of slavery in the U.S. Senate.” Octavo, bound in period-style half sheep over marble covered boards with gilt titles to the spine on a morocco label, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition, signature to the title page.

Hayek, Friedrich August von [F.A.]

The Constitution of Liberty.

Chicago : The University of Chicago, 1960.

First edition, third printing of Hayek’s classic statement on the ideals of freedom and liberty. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Hayek on the title page beneath his name. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

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

First edition of Stowe’s classic and vastly influential novel, “the social impact was greater than any book before or since.” Octavo, two volumes bound in mid-20th century three quarter navy morocco over marbled boards by Blackwell with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edgesContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."