Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - January - 2009 Issue

American Politics from the William Reese Company

What may be the first public printing of the American Constitution.

What may be the first public printing of the American Constitution.


Item 190 is what may be the first unofficial (public) printing of the Constitution, headed Plan of the New Federal Government. It is a four-page document from the press of Philadelphia printer Robert Smith. The official printing for the delegates was made on September 17, 1787, and the official printer made a copy for the public two days later in his Pennsylvania Packet on September 19. Smith's printing is undated, so all that can be said for certain is that it was printed prior to November 1, when his press changed its name. However, its uneven placement on the paper is an indication it may have been rushed off in a hurry, which tends to imply that it was a very early issue. Also, Smith published a newspaper at the time, of which copies of all issues except September 18 survive. Possibly, that date is missing because Smith was printing this handbill instead. If so, it would be the first public printing. $300,000.

John Henry was more than a steel-driving man. He was a spy, intriguer, and probably a fraud. This is not the mythical rail-splitter, but an apparent British spy who provided President Madison with some papers supposedly showing British intentions shortly before the War of 1812. Whether these contained accurate information is unclear, but Madison was sufficiently impressed to give Henry the then enormous sum of $50,000. The letters played a role in pushing the U.S. into war with Britain. Reportedly, Henry took his money and ran to France, where whatever became of him is unknown. Item 81 is Facts Relative to John Henry and His Negotiation, published in 1812, which points out what was supposedly known about Henry and his activities. $500.

You may reach the William Reese Company at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.reeseco.com.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HAMILTON, Sir William - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: 1779. € 50,000 - 80,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KIRCHER, Athanasius - Turris Babel. Amsterdam: 1679. € 3,000 - 5,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: EDWARDS, George.London - Gleanings of Natural History. Londra: 1758-1764. € 7,000 - 10,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HEVELIUS, Johannes - Cometographia. Danzica: 1668. € 20,000 - 30,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KUPKA, Frantisek - Quatre histoires de blanc et noir. Parigi: 1926. € 10,000 - 15,000
  • Sotheby’s
    10 September 2024
    The Shem Tov Bible
  • Koller Auctions
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    18 September 2024
    Koller, Sep. 18: Cowper, William. Anatomia corporum humanorum ab excellentissimis… Utrecht, 1750. CHF 25,000 to 40,000
    Koller, Sep. 18: Bell, Thomas. A Monograph of the Testudinata. London [1836-1842]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. A monograph of the Trochilidae, or family of humming-birds [and] Supplement completed after the authors death…, London [1849-]1861 and [1880-]1887. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    Koller Auctions
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    Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. The birds of New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Levaillant, François. Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers, suivie de celle des toucans et des barbus. Paris [1801-]1806. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Pfinzing, Melchior. Die geverlicheiten und einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen…, Nürnberg, 1517. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.

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