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."

Schrader, Paul; Robert De Niro; Martin Scorsese; Mike Watt [Editor]

Taxi Driver.

Colorado Springs : Gauntless Press, 2018.

Signed limited first edition of this screenplay based on the 1976 film ‘Taxi Driver’, including the full shooting script, one of 500 copies. Quarto, original cloth with black and white pictorial onlay, pictorial endpapers, illustrated throughout with black and white photographs, silk ribbon bound in. Boldly signed by screenwriter Paul Schrader and Robert De NiroContinue reading "Taxi Driver."

Buxton, Thomas Fowell

The African Slave Trade and its Remedy.

London : John Murray, 1840.

First expanded and revised edition of British abolitionist Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton’s powerful indictment of the transatlantic slave trade and the first edition to incorporate his influential Remedy, preceding the first American printing. Octavo, original publisher’s blind-stamped brown cloth with gilt titles to the spine, pages uncut and some partially unopened, issued with the 14-pageContinue reading "The African Slave Trade and its Remedy."

Channing, William E.; Harriet Martineau

Lectures on the Elevation of the Labouring Portion of the Community.

Boston : Published by William D. Ticknor, 1840.

First edition of this collection of three important essays on slavery, the poor, and social change, written by Channing and Martineau, two major Unitarian reformers. Duodecimo, bound in nineteenth century half black sheep over marble covered boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, all edges red speckled. In very good condition.

Smith, William A

Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery, as Exhibited in the Institution of Domestic Slavery in the United States: With the Duties of Masters to Slaves.

Nashville, TN : Stevenson and Evans, 1856.

First edition of this proslavery argument issued shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine, ruling and floral tooling blind stamped to the front and rear panels. In very good condition, inscription to the front free endpaper.

Sunderland, Reverend La Roy

Anti-Slavery Manual, Containing a Collection of Facts and Arguments on American Slavery.

New York : Printed by S.W. Benedict, 1839.

Rare early, improved edition of this prominent religious leader’s influential call for America to end slavery. Duodecimo, contemporary brown paper boards. In very good condition, signatures to the front free endpaper.

Caputo, Philip

A Rumor of War.

New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1977.

First edition, early printing of Caputo’s unsparing Vietnam memoir, which the Los Angeles Times Book Review called “heartbreaking, terrifying, and enraging. It belongs to the literature of men at war.” Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Boldly signed by Philip Caputo on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Manny Haller.Continue reading "A Rumor of War."

Peterson, Eugene H

The Message: The Bible In Contemporary Language.

Colorodo : Navpress, 2002.

First edition of the Message translation of the Bible. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, lenghthily inscribed by Eugene Peterson on the front free endpaper, who has written out the opening verse of Genesis, “For Douglas – ‘First this: God created the heavens and the earth- all you see, all you don’t see. Earth was aContinue reading "The Message: The Bible In Contemporary Language."

[Eisenhower, Dwight D.; Richard Nixon]

Inauguration Invitation for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon.

.

Rare original inauguration invitation for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon. Octavo, finely printed inauguration invitation on cardstock with tissue-guarded black and white portraits of Eisenhower and Nixon, signed in facsimile. In fine condition. The piece measures 6.5 inches by 10 inches.

Dew, Thomas R

Essays on the Restrictive System, Delivered to the Senior Political Class of William and Mary College.

Richmond, VA : Printed by Samuel Shepherd & Co., 1829.

First edition of one of the most consequential defenses of the Southern political and economic order to emerge from antebellum America, delivered from the lectern of the College of William & Mary by the man who would soon become its president and the intellectual standard-bearer of the proslavery argument. Royal octavo, original publisher’s brown clothContinue reading "Essays on the Restrictive System, Delivered to the Senior Political Class of William and Mary College."

Sanchamau, Jean-Baptiste

L’Ecole des Peuples et des Rois; ou Essai philosophique sur La Liberté, le Pouvoir arbitraire, les Juifs et les Noirs. [The School of Peoples and Kings; or Philosophical Essay on Liberty, Arbitrary Power, the Jews and the Blacks].

Paris : Chez Letellier, Libraire, 1790.

Rare first edition of French abolitionist Jean-Baptiste Sanchamau’s passionate attack on slavery and calling for the emancipation of French Jews, published in Paris in the wake of the American Revolution and amidst the upheaval of French Revolution. Octavo, beautifully bound in full period-style full speckled calf gilt, red morocco spine label, speckled edges. Text inContinue reading "L’Ecole des Peuples et des Rois; ou Essai philosophique sur La Liberté, le Pouvoir arbitraire, les Juifs et les Noirs. [The School of Peoples and Kings; or Philosophical Essay on Liberty, Arbitrary Power, the Jews and the Blacks]."

Armistead, Wilson

A Tribute For The Negro: Being a Vindication of the Moral, Intellectual, and Religious Capabilities of the Coloured Portion of Mankind; with Particular Reference to the African Race.

Manchester : William Irwin [and London, Charles Gilpin; New York, William Harned; Philadelphia, H. Longstreth and G. W. Taylor], 1848.

First edition, deluxe issue of Armistead’s best known work, containing possibly the most extensive collection of nineteenth-century slave narratives and biographies. Octavo, original publisher’s deluxe plum morocco gilt, flat spine decorated gilt, with a vignette depicting a pleading slave and the legend “Am I not a man and a brother” to the front board, allContinue reading "A Tribute For The Negro: Being a Vindication of the Moral, Intellectual, and Religious Capabilities of the Coloured Portion of Mankind; with Particular Reference to the African Race."

Baldwin, A.C.; R.B. Thurston; Timothy Williston

Liberty or Slavery; the Great National Question. Three Prize Essays on American Slavery.

Boston : Congregational Board of Publication, 1857.

First edition of this important collection of three prize-winning antislavery essays published in Boston the same year as the infamous Dred Scott decision. Small octavo, original publisher’s brown gilt- and blind-stamped cloth. Containing Reverend R.B. Thurston’s essay “The Error and the Duty in Regard to Slavery,” Reverend A.C. Baldwin’s essay “Friendly Letters to a ChristianContinue reading "Liberty or Slavery; the Great National Question. Three Prize Essays on American Slavery."

Carter, Jimmy [James]

Carter Farms Red Wine: Vinted and Bottled by Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia 1998.

Plains, Georgia : Carter Farms, 1998.

Rare original bottle of red wine produced by the 39th President of the United States from grapes harvested in Plains, Georgia, bottled in a small release intended for family, friends, and a small number of Secret Service personnel, with a portion reserved by the President for annual donation to the Carter Center. Glass Bordeaux-style bottle,Continue reading "Carter Farms Red Wine: Vinted and Bottled by Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia 1998."