The Potomack Company 346 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S 'EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON ELECTRICITY 1774' Quarto, v, [1], 514 pages, [16] index. Bound in half 20th century calf with cloth boards, paneled spine with red label and gilt lettering. Some cracking to front hinge with the lower half beginning to separate. Presentation bookplate to front pastedown. With half-title and seven plates, two folding. With in-text illustrations, charts, musical notation, head- and tail-pieces. Fifth edition. Final English edition and second published as a single volume. Full title: Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America . To which are added, Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects. London: For F. Newbery, 1774. ESTC T56602, Sabin 25506 $1,500-2,000 Provenance: An Old Town Alexandria, Virginia collection
347 [U.S. LAWS] ACTS PASSED AT THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1774-1775 Octavos, three volumes. VG. Bound in matching contemporary full soft leather. Early Editions of volumes 1 and 2 and First Edition of volume 3. Volumes 1 and 2: Philadelphia, Printed by Francis Childs, 1795. Volume 3: Philadelphia, Printed by Francis Childs and John Swaine, 1794, Second Title page: Philadelphia, Printed by Francis Childs, 1795. The Acts were published at the end of each session by Childs & Swaine, in an edition of only 600 copies for internal distribution. At the beginning of the Second Congress it contains the Bill of Rights and a report, state by state, of its ratification. It also includes 'A Treaty of Peace and Friendship‌[with the] Cherokee Nation.' and 'An Act establishing a Mint.' Volume 1 contains, among many others, 'An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent Seat of the Government of the United States' (page 211-213), Volume 3 page 1921 list 'An Act to prohibit the carrying on of the Slave-trade from the United States to any foreign place or country.' $1,500-2,000 Provenance: An Old Town Alexandria, Virginia collection
348 [DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE] SYLVANUS URBAN'S 'THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, AND HISTORICAL CHRONICLE'. VOLUME XLVI. FOR THE YEAR MDCCLXXVI [1776] D. Henry, London, 1776. Octavo, 608 [16] pages. Bound in contemporary half sheep and marbled boards, rebacked. Twelve consecutive monthly issues, plus Supplement, including August, which contains perhaps the earliest British Printing of the Declaration of Independence. The Volume covers the major events of the American Revolution, with documents, plates, and maps. There are fourteen maps and plates, in accordance with the Directions for Placing the Plates. Those of greatest interest are a Map of the Discoveries of Captain Cook, a Map of the "Country around New York and Philadelphia", Long Island, Connecticut and Rhode Island, and a Map "of the Progress of his Majesty's Armies in New York, &c." The Gentleman's Magazine faithfully chronicled the dispute between the Colonies and the Mother Country during the crucial year of 1776. Urban's Preface provides the highlights, including: Burke's Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies, Privateering, Lord North's "proposition for Accommodation," General Lee's Letter to Burgoyne, a review of Dr. Price's Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, Parliamentary Debates, Accounts of conflicts in the Colonies and Canada. The Declaration of Independence appears in the August issue, at pages 361-362. $5,000-7,500
349 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S 'POLITICAL, MISCELLANEOUS, AND PHILOSOPHICAL PIECES 1779' Octavo, xi, [1], 567, [7]. Bound in contemporary calf, recently rebacked in style. Archival repair to endpapers. Bookplate of Earl of Fife on the front pastedown. Uncut with wide margins. "[T]he only edition of Franklin's writings (other than his scientific), which was printed during his lifetime. It was published with Franklin's knowledge and consent, and contains an 'errata' made by him for it." (Ford 342) Franklin writes concerning national and provincial politics, the Stamp Act, wealthy smuggling, spelling, lightning, weather, and the Aurora Borealis. With a frontispiece portrait, three scientific plates (one folding), and a folding table of a "reformed" spelling convention. Ford 342. Howes F330. Sabin 25565 $6,000-7,500 Provenance: An Old Town Alexandria, Virginia collection
Provenance: An Old Town Alexandria, Virginia collection Sale Date - 02/02/2019
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The Potomack Company 350 THE WORKS OF THOMAS PAINE IN 2 VOLUMES, 1797 Two Octavos in contemporary half calf, paneled spines with black and burgundy labels. Boards with some rubbing and fading. Some scattered pencil marks. Some water damage, with tide-marks visible on the lower half of each volume. Philadelphia, Printed by James Carey, 1797. With a half-title to each volume. "Common sense" has a separate title page, dated 1796. Volume 1: vi, [2], 391, [1] pages, Volume 2: [8], 130, [3], 142-368, 148 pages. Error in paging: v. 2, p. 151-152 misnumbered 131132. Bookseller's advertisement, v. 1, p. [392]. [ESTC W20948, Evans, 32633, Sabin, 58245] Previous to this edition only eleven numbers of the 'American Crisis' had been published, omitting number 10 or number 12. In this edition, without authorization by the author, other articles were added, increasing the 'American Crisis' to sixteen numbers, two of which were labeled 'Supernumerary Crisis.' There were three variations of this printing, one with 'The Age of Reason' with separate pagination, one without at the request of some subscribers, and one with a reprint of Watson's 'Apology for the Bible' bound in for subscribers requesting a replacement for 'The Age of Reason.' [Gimbel 1959, 173175] $5,000-10,000
351 THOMAS JEFFERSON AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO JOHN DICKINSON, JULY 23, 1801 one quarto sized sheet, folded in half, with a two page ALS by Thomas Jefferson written as President to John Dickinson. Integral address leaf present, with stamp from Wash. City Jul. 25. There are three pieces of non-archival tape present, causing some discoloration. Jefferson discusses, among other items, the political division between Federalists and Republicans. A Founding Father, John Dickinson was known as the "Penman of the Revolution" for his twelve Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, published individually in 1767 and 1768. A member of both the First and Second Continental Congresses, Dickinson reworked Thomas Jefferson's language and wrote the final draft of the 1775 Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms. When Congress then decided to seek independence from Great Britain, Dickinson served on the committee that wrote the Model Treaty, and then wrote the first draft of the 1776-1777 Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. Upon Dickinson's death, President Thomas Jefferson recognized him as being "Among the first of the advocates for the rights of his country when assailed by Great Britain whose 'name will be consecrated in history as one of the great worthies of the revolution.'"
Provenance: An Old Town Alexandria, Virginia collection
My dear & respected friend Washington July 23. 1801. I have duly recieved your favor of the 18th. Doctr. Vaughan's character had been before known to me in a certain degree, & advantageously known as a friend to republican government. your letter in his favor strengthened my confidence in it. for your satisfaction as well as from a regard to truth I assure you that nothing could be more candid than his conduct here. it was at my request he undertook to consult the friends of republicanism on his return & to recommend a marshal. he declined doing it here & of himself, & until he should know that the person would accept. I am sorry the person recommended has not been agreeable to all the republicans. but I am more concerned to see in this disapprobation a germ of division which, if not smothered, will continue you under that rule from which union is relieving our fellow citizens in other states. it is disheartening to see, on the approaching crisis of election, a division of that description of republicans, which has certainly no strength to spare. but, my dear friend, if we do not learn to sacrifice small differences of opinion, we can never act together. every man cannot have his way in all things. if his own opinion prevails at some times, he should acquiesce on seeing that of others preponderate at others. without this mutual disposition we are disjointed individuals, but not a society. my position is painful enough between federalists who cry out on the first touch of their monopoly, & republicans who clamour for universal removal. a subdivision of the latter will increase the perplexity. I am proceeding with deliberation & enquiry to do what I think just to both descriptions & conciliatory to both. the greatest good we can do our country is to heal it's party
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The Potomack Company 352 JOHN BINNS: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 1819 this engraved broadside facsimile of the Declaration of Independence is one of the earliest engraved copies of the Declaration. It was printed with medallions of seals of the thirteen original colonies encompassing the text, as well as medallion portraits of John Hancock, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Measures 91 x 65 1/2 cm $500-1,000 Provenance: By descent in the John Rodgers family, Sion Hill Estate, Havre de Grace, MD
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353 THOMAS JEFFERSON AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO JAMES RONALDSON, OCTOBER 11, 1812 one quarto sized sheet, separated into three pieces, with a two page ALS by Thomas Jefferson written at Monticello to James Ronaldson. Integral address leaf present, with stamp from CHARLOTville Va. Oct 14. There are four small and one large pieces of archival repair to integral address leaf. Jefferson discusses primarily the farming and manufacturing in Monticello, including both seeds and spindles. He also discusses in brief Napoleon Bonaparte. Sir Your favor of the 1st was the first information I recieved of your return to Philadelphia. I had recieved in the spring the assortment of seeds you had been so kind as to address to me. they were very long in their passage from Norfolk to this place, insomuch that the season was far advanced before they got to hand. many have consequently failed, but several succeeded. the oats & barley particularly, the latter of which is valuable as being naked. several of the cabbages & kales succeed, as also the spinach, and a single plant of early turnep, will give us the seed. three Scotch firs have vegetated. the fiorin grass seed came up well, but was soon checked by our hot sun. I had before recieved some plants of it from Ireland, which in early spring throve finely; but as soon as the steady summer sun came on it, it all but perished. however it may flourish in the cloudy dripping climate of Ireland, I doubt it here. the gooseberries appeared totally dead on their arrival. one only put out a single bud, but died afterwards. I preserved it however as, if any life remains it may put out in the spring. I thank you for Cobbet's paper. it will probably arrive by our next post. he is the only man in England who seems to know any thing about us: but his prophecies, like those of Cassandra, are fated not to be believed. we must fight them into a knolege of us. their arms I fear not; but their money has shewn itself plainly enough in Massachusets & Detroit. we shall in all events derive permanent benefit from the war, by it's giving time for the permanent establishment of our manufactures, to which the high duties, you mention, will contribute, while they also enrich our treasury. we always manufactured a great deal in this state in the houshold way: but this was on the old Spinning wheel. the introduction of machines into our families is becoming common. those of 6. spindles suit the smaller families. I have 36. spindles going myself & shall soon add 18. more. my son in law has 40. we find the old Jenny far preferable to the newer & less simple contrivances. in a year or two more, houshold manufacture will be so universally established in this state, that the British commerce in coarse goods will be compleatly extirpated, & never more will be of much value to them. the prize goods taken from them will not be in sufficient quantity to check our manufactures, & may help us to get under way as to them as well as the war. but to enable the country people to bear war taxes, a vent for their produce is indispensable. they would soon become
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The Potomack Company 353A 'THE FEDERALIST', BY HAMILTON, MADISON, AND JAY FIFTEENTH EDITION 1837 Octavo, 500 pages. VG. Bound in contemporary full calf, some rubbing and scuffing. Hallowell: Glazier, Masters & Smith 1837. Title page has the upper fore corner torn and missing, does not impact title. Small tear to rear endpaper, with small news clipping pasted. Some mild age-toning and foxing. This edition follows the text of the 1818 Gideon edition, which was the first to contain Madison's notes and corrections. The author of each essay is indicated. $300-400 Provenance: An Old Town Alexandria, Virginia collection
354 PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ENDORSEMENT OF MAJOR ABNER DOUBLEDAY TO BRIGADIER GENERAL, NOVEMBER 27, 1861 the short signed handwritten note, on the back of another letter, declares Lincoln's "wish to appoint Major Doubleday a Brigadier General so soon as Gen. McClellan is willing." Doubleday fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, the opening battle of the war, and fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. The letter itself is dated Nov. 16. 1861, and is a three page ALS endorsing Doubleday addressed to Simon Cameron, Secretary of War. The letter is 17 1/4 x 20 1/2 cm. It has been folded in half with some mild tearing along creases. $5,000-7,000 Provenance: Stewart R. Crane Family Collection
355 MAJOR GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO MAJOR GENERAL BUELL IN PITTSBURG, APRIL 7TH, 1862 DURING THE BATTLE OF SHILOH the letter contains detailed descriptions of Grant's battle plans in the middle of what was then the bloodiest battle in American history, before being overtaken by the Battle of Antietam in September. It is addressed to Major General Don Carlos Buell, the leader of the Army of the Ohio, from which Grant was reinforced over the night of the 6th/7th. The letter was presumably written during the early morning hours when Grant could not sleep. The letter is 24 1/2 x 19 1/4 cm, written on both sides, lacking the integral address leaf. The header places the letter at Head Quarters, Pittsburg, April 7th, 1862, and is addressed to Major General Buell. The paper has two vertical creases and three horizontal, but has no tears. There is a small embossed stamp in the upper left corner. $4,000-8,000
356 GROUP OF FOUR 19TH CENTURY WORKS OF AMERICANA the first, a portrait of Gen. Andrew Jackson, handcolored lithograph in color published by J. Baillie, New York; the second, an ink drawing of a Swan with dedication "For making the most improvement in writing"; the third, an ink and watercolor cut-out of a horse laid on gold textured paper and the fourth, a printed "Washington" commemorative cotton banner; each framed (4) $600-800 Provenance: Charlottesville, VA, Estate
Provenance: Stewart R. Crane Family Collection 357 THE PORTFOLIO: AN ARTISTIC PERIODICAL 13 VOLUMES 1877-1892 Quartos, 13 volumes. In various leather bindings, some matching. Contains volumes from the years 1877-1892. Some wear and rubbing to all bindings, some ex-library, interiors clean. Illustrated throughout with full-page tissue-guarded plates, as well as numerous etchings, mezzotines, woodcuts, and sketches, within the text by hundreds of artists, including Rubens, Rafael, Herbert Railton, Alfred Dawson, James Holland, Beyle, and W. Strang. $4,000-4,500
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358 GAZETTE DES BEAUX-ARTS, VOLUMES 21-30, 1880-1884 10 volumes, bound in uniform half brown leather, marbled boards and endpapers, top edge of text blocks gilt. Contains the complete run of volumes 2130, published bi-annually from 1880-1884. Filled with essays on art in French and profusely illustrated with plates and engravings from artists including Adrien van Ostade, Manet, Tanerede Abraham, Sano di Pietro, and A. Menzel $2,500-3,000
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The Potomack Company 359 'FUTILITY' BY MORGAN ROBERTSON, RARE FIRST EDITION, 1898 Octavo, 145 pages, Futility, or, The Wreck of the Titan as it was later subtitled, was printed by M.F. Mansfield in 1898, 14 years before the sinking of the Titanic. The fictional story of a ship, The Titan, that sinks when it hits an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean, similarities include carrying an insufficient number of lifeboats, hitting an iceberg during the night in April, and sinking in the North Atlantic. While there are differences, including the number of people killed (705 survived the Titanic and only 13 survived the fictional sinking), there are enough uncanny coincidences that it fascinates historians and experts to this day. Note: All proceeds to benefit Friends of Richard Byrd Library, Springfield, VA $4,000-5,000
359A WALT WHITMAN'S 'LEAVES OF GRASS', LIMITED EDITION SIGNED BY ROCKWELL KENT New York: Heritage Press n.d. [1936], bound in original full dark green morocco with gilt title and ornaments, housed in publisher's slipcase. Limited edition of 1000 unnumbered copies, autographed in the colophon by Rockwell Kent. Slight rubbing to spine ends. Scarce Kent item $400-600
360 FRAMED POSTER 'THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD', SIGNED BY BOBBY THOMSON, RALPH BRANCA AND LEROY NEIMAN additional newspaper clippings attached to verso; The 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' refers to the game-winning home run by New York Giants outfielder and third baseman Bobby Thomson off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca on October 3, 1951. Thomson's three run homer in the ninth inning of Game Three won the National League pennant for the New York Giants. $600-800
361 ASSEMBLAGE OF BASEBALL MEMORABILIA RELATED TO BOBBY THOMSON'S 1951 'SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD' shadow box with assorted items including a ticket stub from the game, and a framed photograph of the home run shot, signed by Bobby Thomson, with additional team photo and newspaper clippings; The 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' refers to the game-winning home run by New York Giants outfielder and third baseman Bobby Thomson off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca on October 3, 1951. Thomson's three run homer in the ninth inning of Game Three won the National League pennant for the New York Giants. $2,000-4,000
362 J. D. SALINGER'S 'THE CATCHER IN THE RYE' FIRST EDITION FIRST PRINTING Octavo, 277 pages. VG-/none. Some rubbing to gilt lettering on spine, slight cocking. Mild wear to head and tail of spine, corners. FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page, black cloth decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt on spine. Original front flap of dust jacket loose within, from a first state dust jacket with no mention Book-of-the-Month Club statement and '$3.00' price $1,400-1,600
363 THREE J. D. SALINGER BOOKS: 'RAISE HIGH THE ROOF BEAM, CARPENTERS', 'NINE STORIES', AND 'FOR ESMÉ - WITH LOVE AND SQUALOR' Three volumes total. Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters is a VG/VG- First Edition, Third State, with the appropriate dedication. There is a bookplate to the front pastedown and a matching name written in ink to the ffep. The dust jacket has some mild wear and closed tearing. For Esmé, - with Love and Squalor is a G+/Fair First British Edition, Second Printing. The Dust Jacket has numerous tears and stains, but is still intact. This volume is slightly cocked, with a name written in ink on the ffep and a small stain to the bottom fore corner of the text block. Scarce in any condition. Stories is a VG/VG- Later Book Club. (3) $300-400
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The Potomack Company 364 TENNESSEE WILLIAMS TWO SIGNED BOOKS, 'A LOVELY SUMMER FOR CREVE COEUR' AND 'THE TWO CHARACTER PLAY' Two volumes. A Lovely Summer for Creve Coeur is VG/VG, with a flat signature on the ffep of Tennessee Williams. The Two-Character Play is a VG paperback, also with a flat signature on the ffep of Tennessee Williams (2) $500-600
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