Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - April - 2005 Issue
American Treaties and Diplomacy from William Reese Co.
This 1686 treaty attempted to keep European disputes off of American soil.
The next major confrontation would be called the French and Indian War (by Americans), or the Seven Years' War (by Europeans). The French and British would battle it out in America, and ultimately, the British would get the better of the fight. In 1763, the combatants would sign The Definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship..., better known as the Treaty of Paris. There would be little peace, and even less friendship between these two sides in the years ahead, but for the Americas, it meant the virtual end of France's colonial role, and established Britain as the major North American power. England received all of America east of the Mississippi, all but two small islands of Canada, and Spain ceded East and West Florida (which then included parts of Alabama and Mississippi) to the British. Spain, in turn, received Louisiana, which in those days went as far north as the Canadian border, from France. Item 50. $5,000.
Things could not be better for the British colonial empire in North America. What could possibly go wrong? As we all know, it was the British themselves that accomplished what neither the French nor the Spanish could do. Between overreaching by their authorities at home, and rebelliousness by their unhappy colonists in America, the British would soon find themselves removed from all of North America south of the Canadian border (except, perhaps, some disputed territory in the Pacific Northwest). Item 57 is the first treaty of this new nation. It was signed by the rebellious colonies and England's old nemesis, France. This is the official French printing from 1778 of Traite d'Amitie at de Commerce, Conclu entre le Roi et Les Etat-Unis de l'Amerique... This first treaty signed by the United States provided the nation with recognition from a foreign power. $25,000.
Of course, what comes next is the most important treaty of all. It is the treaty signed between England and the United States ending the Revolution, and recognizing the United States as a sovereign, independent nation. Item 74 is the first American newspaper printing, and possibly the first U.S. publication in any form, of the preliminary treaty. It appeared in the Pennsylvania Packet of April 10, 1783. $5,000.
Now that the U.S. was independent, it would start to expand. The greatest expansion would come in 1803, with what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. France had regained Louisiana from the Spanish the previous year. Now, Thomas Jefferson would approach the French about buying New Orleans to provide secure navigation of the Mississippi. Instead, the French, with expansionist ideas of their own in Europe, and a need for cash, offered to sell the entire territory. With a stroke of a pen, the territory of the United States doubled overnight. Item 124, a Message from the President of the United States, Inclosing a Treaty...Relative to the Cession of Louisiana... From 1803. $30,000.
