July Catalogue Review

This is an interesting group of revolutionary war pamphlets bound together. Mr. Raikes was a printer in Glocester for only about ten years. These pieces are printed at the beginning of his experience there. The next item, #37, is another piece by the same printer. $350

#68. Trial of David S. Terry by the Committee of Vigilance, San Francisco. San Francisco: R. C. Moore & Co., printers, Alta California Newspaper Office, 1856, octavo, 75 pp., re-bound in later cloth, light damp stain to text, otherwise a very good clean copy. One of the few printed records of an extra-legal murder trial in the United States. Terry was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer of the committee, and with four counts of assault. The committee found him guilty but decided instead of the “usual punishments” to free him with the recommendation that he resign from the State Supreme Court. Terry declined this advice and in 1857 became Chief Justice. Cowan p 633; Eberstadt 105:78; Graff 4104; Greenwood 772; Howes T-106; Sabin 94889. $650

Justice and injustice are a theme in western literature.

#93 [Civil War] 1860 Association. Tract No. 2. State Sovereignty and the Doctrine of Coercion, by the Hon. Wm. D. Porter; Together with a Letter from Hon. J. K. Paulding, Former Sec. of navy, The Right to Secede, by “States.” Charleston: Evans & Cogswell’s Steam-Power Presses, [1860] octavo, 36 page tract, sewn as issued, pages 33-36 are printed on different paper stock. These leaves are also creased and worn, some tears along the gutter edge, otherwise a good clean copy. Presentation of the South Carolinian and Southern viewpoint of Lincoln and the Republican party, and the tensions which were to culminate in secession. $175

Those with an interest in the events leading to the Civil War will find this type of material fascinating. We now know where these events lead but at the time it was only bombast, accusation and anger.

#245 Paine, Thomas, Miscellaneous Letters and Essays, on Various Subjects. Granville, Middletown, N. J.: George H. Evans, 1844, octavo, 86, 24, 95 pp., includes: The Miscellaneous Poems, &c of Thomas Paine...; A Letter to George Washington on the Subject of a Treaty Concluded between Great Britain and the United States of America, Including other Matters...; bound in late 19th century ¾ red leather and marbled boards, binding somewhat rubbed and scuffed, corners bumped, else a good copy. “Three Paine works, separately paginated but consecutively signed, and available from Evans as individual pamphlets, as a bound volume, and as one volume of a two or three volume set of Paine’s works. Includes Paine’s “Essay on the Construction of Iron Bridges” and several letters within from Bordentown.” Joe Felcone. American Imprints 44-4800-4801. $100

Enter the world of Thomas Paine on tip-toes. He is an extraordinary figure in the revolutionary era and few books on the period fail to give him an important place. This book, at $100, is a bargain but it is only a down payment. The next early piece by Thomas Paine will cost you more and if someday you reach the highest levels of book collecting and aspire to own a first edition of his most important work, Common Sense, much, much more.

Michael Brown is located at 4421 Osage Avenue in Philadelphia. He maintains online websites at www.abebook.com and www.bookavenue.com and can be reached by email at mbamericana@minspring.com Tel:(215)387-2290, Fax:(215)387-9808.

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July Catalogue Review

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July Catalogue Review

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