The Federal Era

CATALOGUE THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN The Federal Era WILLIAM REESE COMPANY 409 Temple Street New Haven, CT 06511 (203) 789-8081 A Note This catalogue is devoted to the two decades from the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 to the first Jefferson administration and the Louisiana Purchase, usually known to scholars as the Federal era. It saw the evolution of the United States from the uncertainties of the Confederation to the establishment of the Constitution and first federal government in 1787-89, through Washington’s two administrations and that of John Adams, and finally the Jeffersonian revolution of 1800 and the dramatic expansion of the United States. Notable items include a first edition of The Federalist; a collection of the treaties ending the Revolutionary conflict (1783); the first edition of the first American navigational guide, by Furlong (1796); the Virginia Resolutions of 1799; various important cartographical works by Norman and Mount & Page; a first edition of Benjamin’s Country Builder’s Assistant (1797); a set of Carey’s American Museum; and much more. Our catalogue 338 will be devoted to Western Americana. Available on request or via our website are our recent catalogues 331 Archives & Manuscripts, 332 French Americana, 333 Americana–Beginnings, 334 Recent Acquisitions in Americana, and 336 What I Like About the South; bulletins 41 Original Works of American Art, 42 Native Americans, 43 Cartography, and 44 Photography; e-lists (only available on our website) and many more topical lists. q A portion of our stock may be viewed at www.williamreesecompany.com. If you would like to receive e-mail notification when catalogues and lists are uploaded, please e-mail us at [email protected] or send us a fax, specifying whether you would like to receive the notifications in lieu of or in addition to paper catalogues. If you would prefer not to receive future catalogues and/or notifications, please let us know. Terms Material herein is offered subject to prior sale. All items are as described and are con- sidered to be on approval. Notice of return must be given within ten days unless specific arrangements are made. Connecticut residents must be billed state sales tax. Postage and insurance charges are billed to all nonprepaid domestic orders. Overseas orders are sent by air unless otherwise requested, with full postage charges billed at our discretion. Payment by check, wire transfer or bank draft is preferred, but may also be made by MasterCard or Visa. William Reese Company Phone: (203) 789-8081 409 Temple Street Fax: (203) 865-7653 New Haven, CT 06511 E-mail: [email protected] www.williamreesecompany.com ON THE COVER: 70. [Hamilton, Alexander]: Alexander Hamilton.... New York. 1804. The Copy of the Wayward Son: Charles Adams’ Copy of His Father’s Famous Work 1. Adams, John: A DEFENCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONS OF GOV- ERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. London. 1787-1788. Volumes two and three only (of three). [4],451; [2],528,[36]pp. Contemporary calf, gilt morocco labels. All boards present, but front board detached from second volume and rear board detached from third volume. Lightly age-toned. Good. Lacks the first volume. In a half morocco and cloth clamshell case, spine gilt. This set bears the ownership signature of Charles Adams (1770-1800), second son of President John Adams, the author of this work. The second volume bears a presentation inscription from Charles Adams on the front pastedown. There is also an inscription on a front fly leaf of the third volume reading “Uranian Society from Charles Adams,” likely in the hand of another person. Although we cannot be certain, it is quite possible that President Adams himself gave these volumes to his son, Charles. At the age of nine Charles Adams travelled with his father and his older brother, John Quincy, to Europe, returning to America two years later. He graduated from Harvard in 1789 and moved to New York, where his father had assumed the position of George Washington’s vice president. Charles lived with his parents for a time when he initially moved to New York, studied law for three years (for a brief period in the office of Alexander Hamilton), established a practice in New York in 1792, and married in 1795. Ultimately, Charles was a disappointment to his father, living a dissolute life and dying of complications of alcoholism at the age of thirty. The Uranian Society, to which these volumes were at some point given by Charles Adams, was a debating society under the auspices of Columbia Col- lege, and existed in New York from circa 1788 to circa 1794. Records show that Charles Adams was a member, and he likely donated these volumes to the Society in an effort to develop their collection of useful books. Both volumes also have the ownership signature of William Stuart, also a member of the Uranian Society, who likely acquired them when the Society disbanded. This set lacks the first volume, and it is unlikely that we will ever know for certain whether John Adams personally presented these volumes to his young son, Charles. It is known that John Adams provided financial support to his sons, John Quincy, Charles, and Thomas, especially when they were struggling early in their professional lives. Further, biographer Joseph Ellis notes that John Adams “sold his own horses in order to purchase the most up-to-date law books for Charles.” When the transfer of the seat of government caused John Adams to move to Philadelphia, he carried on a lengthy correspondence with Charles, asking his opinion on legal issues and recommending readings to further and broaden his education. It is not a wild conjecture to suppose that, having likely given Charles a copy of the book when it was initially published in a one-volume edition in London in 1787, John Adams supplied his son with these two volumes when they were published. The second and third volumes of the complete first edition of one of the most important and widely read of the many writings of the important Revolutionary figure and second president. These second and third volumes, issued later, contain descriptions of the Italian republics of the Middle Ages as well as a lengthy analysis of “the Right Constitution of a Commonwealth.” At the time Adams wrote this work he was serving as the first United States Ambassador in England, an uncomfortable position for a recent rebel, but he was ever ready to argue the American point of view. The book was popular and went through numerous editions. Its issuance as the Federal Constitutional Convention was assembling added to its popularity and resulted in several American reprintings; according to the DAB, “its timeliness gave it vogue.” Later, Adams’ detractors sought to find in it a hidden desire for a monarchy. HOWES A60, “aa.” SABIN 233. DAB I, p.76. $7500. One of the Most Influential Constitutional Works 2. Adams, John: DÉFENSE DES CONSTITUTIONS AMÉRICAINES, OU DE LA NÉCESSITÉ D’UNE BALANCE DANS LES POU- VOIRS D’UN GOUVERNEMENT LIBRE. Paris. 1792. Two volumes. [4],xxiv,547; [2],503pp. Half title in each volume. Bound in original wrappers of yellow printer’s wastepaper, with other wastepaper used as the inner wrap- per; original printed paper labels. Wrappers lightly stained. An occasional fox mark, else internally pristine. A fine set, in original, completely unsophisticated condition, untrimmed and unopened. The first French edition, following London and Philadelphia editions of 1787, of one of the most important and widely read of the many writings of John Adams. This French edition was issued at a crucial moment in that country’s history, as the Revolution was moving in a more radical direction. In 1792 the revolutionaries in the French Assembly stripped King Louis XVI of his power and declared him a prisoner of the nation. They called together the “Convention,” initially created to draft a new constitution to replace that of 1791, but eventually becoming a provi- sional revolutionary government. This work by Adams, explaining and defending the principles of the American Constitution, would have been a timely and popular book indeed. At the time Adams wrote this work he was serving as the first United States ambassador in England, an uncomfortable position for a recent rebel, but he was ever ready to argue the American point of view. Here he forcibly states the principles on which he perceived the United States to be founded. The book was popular and went through numerous editions in the United States and London. Its issuance as the Federal Constitutional Convention was assembling added to its popularity and resulted in several American reprintings, and according to the DAB, “its timeliness gave it vogue.” Later, Adams’ detractors sought to find in it a hidden desire for a monarchy. A detailed exposition of Adams’ political principles. An absolutely beautiful set, in original, untouched condition. HOWES A60. SABIN 237. DAB I, p.76. $2500. John Adams Explains the Principles of American Government 3. Adams, John: A DEFENCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AGAINST THE ATTACK ON M. TURGOT IN HIS LETTER TO DR. PRICE.... London: John Stockdale, 1794. Three volumes. 8,xxxii,3-392; [2],451,[1]; [2],528,[36]pp. Portrait in first volume. Contemporary gilt tree calf, rebacked, leather labels. Bookplate on front pastedown of each volume. Minor scattered foxing, but generally quite clean and fresh internally. Very good. The definitive final edition, after its first appearance in London in 1787. One of the most important and widely read of the many writings of the important Revo- lutionary figure and second president of the United States.

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