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  • First Edition of The John Adams Reader: Essential Writings on an American Composer; Inscribed by John Adams

    ADAMS, JOHN] THOMAS MAY.

    The John Adams Reader: Essential Writings on an American Composer.

    New Jersey: Amadeus Press 2006.

    First edition of this compilation of writings by the famed composer. Octavo, original black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Inscribed by the composer John Adams on the title page.

    Price: $150.00     Item Number: 1298

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  • "The longest letter signed and entirely in the hand of John Adams obtainable": Exceptionally rare 16-page autograph letter signed by Founding Father John Adams defending the ultimate necessity of American sovereignty

    ADAMS, JOHN.

    John Adams Autograph Letter Signed.

    : 1809.

    Exceptionally rare 16-page autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of Founding Father John Adams defending the ultimate necessity of American sovereignty and its precedence over international alliances. Sixteen pages, entirely in the hand of John Adams and written on both the recto and verso of each page, the letter is dated January 9, 1809 and addressed to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Joseph Bradley Varnum. Although France and America shared a strong alliance which proved crucial to winning the Revolutionary War, at the onset of the French Revolution in 1789, Washington’s fear that American involvement would weaken the new nation before it had firmly established itself created tensions and a new war between England and France broke out in 1793. The British Navy soon began targeting French vessels and trading interests across the Atlantic, and although many Federalists thought that America should aid its ally, Washington proclaimed that the United States would be “friendly and impartial toward the belligerent parties.” The Neutrality Proclamation was ignored by Britain and angered France, which then allowed its navy and privateers to prey on American trade. To protect American sailors and merchants without provoking Britain, in March 1794, Congress passed a 30-day embargo, which it then extended. Britain, the strongest sea power, began to seize American ships suspected of trading with France, and stepped up its practice of impressment. From 1806-1807, the British navy, in desperate need of men to oppose Napoleon, forced roughly 5,000 American sailors into service on the pretense that they were deserters. In 1807, King George III proclaimed his right to call any British subjects into war service and claimed that Britain had full discretion to determine who was a British citizen. The crisis reached one peak for America in June of 1807 when the HMS Leopard attacked the USS Chesapeake off the coast of Virginia. Three American sailors were killed, eighteen were wounded, and the Chesapeake surrendered after firing only one shot. The Leopard seized four American seaman, claimed as deserters from the British navy, and hanged one of them. Jefferson and Madison, his Secretary of State, responded with the Embargo of 1807, a ban on all American vessels sailing for foreign ports. Meanwhile, Russia allied with Napoleon and pressed Denmark to turn over her fleet. In September 1807, Britain preemptively bombarded Copenhagen and seized the Danish-Norwegian fleet. While Jefferson’s Republicans still generally favored France, a schism grew in the Federalist party. Men like Timothy Pickering downplayed impressments while focusing on trade and access to British manufacturing. On October 16, 1807, King George III aggravated already high tensions with American following the British attack of the USS Chesapeake off the coast of Virginia by issuing a Royal Proclamation expanding the British right to impressment (the King’s right to call any British subjects into war service and determine their citizenship). News of the King’s Proclamation arrived in the United States in December 1807 and, lacking military options, President Jefferson proposed an embargo to ban all U.S. exports on American vessels in order to protect American sailors’ lives and liberties, despite its potential to cripple American trade. The Embargo Act was signed on December 22, 1807, causing immediate economic devastation. In protesting the Embargo, rather than wrestling with the difficulty of defending American sovereignty, some opponents chose to declare the legality of impressments as defined by King George’s Royal Proclamation. John Adams’ former Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering, took a leading role in fighting the embargo, arguing that Jefferson was using it to draw America closer to Napoleon’s France. Given the devastating economic effects of the embargo, Pickering’s message found a wide audience. Adams, on the other hand, recognized the dire threat the King’s Proclamation posed in denying America the right to determine its own rules for citizenship and in December, took his arguments to Speaker of the House Joseph Varnum. As he stated in the present letter, “He [Pickering] thinks that as every Nation has a Right to the Service of its Subjects, in time of War, the Proclamation of the King of Great Britain, commanding his Naval Officers to practice Such Impressments, on board, not the Vessells of his own Subjects, but of the United States, a foreign Nation could not furnish the Slightest ground for an Embargo! … But I Say with Confidence that it furnished a Sufficient ground for a Declaration of War. Not the Murder of Pierce nor all the Murders on board the Chesapeake, nor all the other Injuries and Insults We have received from foreign Nations, atrocious as they have been, can be of such dangerous, lasting, and pernicious Consequence to this Country, as this Proclamation, if We have Servility enough to Submit to it.” Adams suggested repealing and replacing the Embargo Act with one that allowed international trade with all but the belligerents, while building up the navy. Varnum asked to publish it. Before assenting, Adams completely reworked his argument, mustering all the reason and rhetoric at his disposal into a stirring defense of sovereignty and citizenship, resulting in the present letter. On March 1, 1809, Congress repealed the Embargo Act, following Adams’ suggestion to replace it with the Non-Intercourse Act which allowed trade with all nations except Britain and France. In fine condition. A remarkable piece of early American history illustrating the second President of the United States’ impassioned devotion to the pursuit of American liberty. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. The longest letter signed and entirely in the hand of John Adams obtainable.

    Price: $125,000.00     Item Number: 121560

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  • First edition of John Quincy Adams' The Jubilee of the Constitution

    ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY.

    The Jubilee of the Constitution. A Discourse Delivered at the Request of the New York Historical Society, in the City of New York, on Tuesday, the 30th of April, 1789.

    New York: Published by Samuel Colman 1839.

    First edition of John Quincy Adams’ powerful speech—“one of Adams’ best”—delivered at the request of the New York Historical Society on the 50th Anniversary of Washington’s Inauguration. Octavo, original wrappers, frontispiece and half-title. In very good condition.

    Price: $2,500.00     Item Number: 126793

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  • "Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives": First Edition of John Adams; signed by David McCullough

    MCCULLOUGH, DAVID.

    John Adams.

    New York: Simon & Schuster 2001.

    First edition of the author’s second Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Nancy Kovac with greetings from David McCullough 2017.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Wendell Minor. Jacket painting by Gilbert Stuart.

    Price: $400.00     Item Number: 138030

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  • "Griefs upon griefs! Disappointments upon disappoints. What then? This is a gay, merry world notwithstanding": John Adams; Warmly Inscribed by David McCullough

    MCCULLOUGH, DAVID.

    John Adams.

    New York: Simon & Schuster 2001.

    First edition of the author’s second Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Octavo, original half cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by the author with a long quote from this work on the title page, “For John Rogers ‘Griefs upon griefs! Disappointments upon disappoints. What then? This is a gay, merry world notwithstanding.’ It could have been his epitaph David McCullough.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Wendell Minor. Jacket painting by Gilbert Stuart. A unique example.

    Price: $1,200.00     Item Number: 144367

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  • First Edition of The President Speaks: "A More Beautiful America": Inscribed by LBJ to Florida Senator George Smathers

    JOHNSON, LYNDON B. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANSEL ADAMS.

    The President Speaks: “A More Beautiful America” Excerpts from Speeches.

    Washington, D.C: Government Printing Office 1965.

    First edition of this collection of speeches from President Lyndon Johnson. Quarto, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To George Smathers from his devoted friend. Lyndon B. Johnson.” The recipient, George Smathers was a United States senator from Florida from 1951-1969, and close friends of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Illustrated throughout from photographs by Ansel Adams, plus one by Wynn Bullock. Booklet “Message on Natural Beauty” by Johnson loose in rear endpaper pocket as issued. Near fine in a fine slipcase. A nice association.

    Price: $1,200.00     Item Number: 56030

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  • Rare first edition of S. Putnam Waldo's Biographical Sketches of Distinguished American Naval Heroes and the War of the Revolution

    WALDO, S. PUTNAM. [JAMES MONROE; JOHN ADAMS; THOMAS JEFFERSON].

    Biographical Sketches of Distinguished American Naval Heroes and the War of the Revolution, Between the American Republic and the Kingdom of Great Britain; Comprising Sketches of Com. Nicholas Biddle, Com. John Paul Jones, Com. Edward Preble and Com. Alexander Murray. With Incidental Allusions to other Distinguished Characters.

    Hartford: Published by Silas Andrus 1823.

    First edition of Putnam’s work dedicated to American naval heroes of the Revolutionary War including James Monroe, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine. In near fine condition. Armorial bookplate to the pastedown. Rare.

    Price: $7,500.00     Item Number: 120635

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  • Elaborately bound collection of Presidential autographs; containing the autograph of each of the first 34 Presidents of the United States from George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower

    WASHINGTON, GEORGE; JOHN ADAMS; THOMAS JEFFERSON; JAMES MADISON; JAMES MONROE; JOHN QUINCY ADAMS; ANDREW JACKSON; MARTIN VAN BUREN; WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON; JOHN TYLER; JAMES POLK; ZACHARY TAYLOR; MILLARD FILLMORE; FRANKLIN PIERCE; JAMES BUCHANAN; ABRAHAM LINCOLN; ANDREW JOHNSON; ULYSSES S. GRANT; RUTHERFORD B. HAYES; JAMES GARFIELD; CHESTER A. ARTHUR; GROVER CLEVELAND; WILLIAM MCKINLEY; THEODORE ROOSEVELT; WILLIAM H. TAFT; WOODROW WILSON; WARREN G. HARDING; CALVIN COOLIDGE; HERBERT HOOVER; FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT; HARRY TRUMAN; DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER.

    Autographs of the Presidents of the United States of America.

    : 1783-1956.

    Elaborately bound collection of Presidential autographs, containing the autograph of each of the first 34 Presidents of the United States from George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Quarto, bound in full red morocco by Riviere & Son with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt presidential seal to the front panel with white and blue morocco onlays, gilt arms and motto of George Washington to the rear panel with white and blue morocco onlays and his gilt signature in facsimile, centerpieces within quintuple gilt ruling with star emblems at each corner, blue morocco doublures with multiple gilt presidential signatures, blue silk endpapers. This complete series of autographs of the first 34 Presidents of the United States contains the signature of each mounted on an album leaf opposite a loosely tissue-guarded engraved portrait of each. The collection includes: the signature of George Washington on an envelope addressed to Major General Knox as Secretary of the Society of the Cincinnati, November 3, 1783; a clipped signature of John Adams; clipped signature of Thomas Jefferson; the signature of James Madison on an envelope addressed to Reverend Frederick Freeman of Manayunk, Pennsylvania; and inscription signed by James Monroe; the signature of John Quincy Adams on an envelope addressed to William Plumer jun. Esq. in Epping, New Hampshire; a partially printed land grant signed by Andrew Jackson dated 1831 registering the purchase of 20 acres in Detroit by Peter Aldrich; clipped signature of Martin Van Buren; clipped signature of William Henry Harrison; signed inscription from John Tyler; signed inscription from James Polk; clipped signature of Zachary Taylor dated Baton Rouge, March 5, 1841; clipped signature of Millard Fillmore; clipped signature of Franklin Pierce; clipped signature of James Buchanan on a document dated July 18, 1858; clipped signature of Abraham Lincoln; endorsement signed by Andrew Johnson as President; clipped signature of Ulysses S. Grant; card signed by Rutherford B. Hayes; inscription signed by James Garfield; large card signed by Chester A. Arthur and dated May 22, 1884; autograph noted signed by Grover Cleveland declining an invitation, dated November 16, 1890; an Executive Mansion card signed by William McKinely; clipped signature of Theodore Roosevelt; clipped signature of William Howard Taft; clipped signature of Woodrow Wilson; typed letter signed by Warren G. Harding as President, dated June 4, 1923 on White House letterhead; card signed by Calvin Coolidge; White House card signed by Herbert Hoover; typed letter signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, February 15, 1917. Laid in is a typed letter signed by Harry S. Truman as President, June 30, 1950, on White House stationery and a typed letter signed by Dwight Eisenhower. TLS as President, November 13, 1956, on White House stationery. In fine condition. Housed in a custom folding chemise and half morocco slipcase. An exceptional collection and presentation.

    Price: $80,000.00     Item Number: 125384

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  • Exceptionally rare autograph album containing the autographs of 24 American Presidents in addition to numerous autographs of Cabinet Members, vice presidents and several rare carte-de-visites

    WASHINGTON, GEORGE; JOHN ADAMS; THOMAS JEFFERSON; JAMES MADISON; ANDREW JACKSON; MARTIN VAN BUREN; WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON; JAMES TYLER; JAMES H. POLK; JAMES BUCHANAN; ZACHARY TAYLOR; MILLARD FILLMORE; JAMES BUCHANAN; FRANKLIN PIERCE; ABRAHAM LINCOLN; WILLIAM SEWARD; ANDREW JOHNSON; ULYSSES S. GRANT; JAMES GARFIELD; CHESTER A. ARTHUR; GROVER CLEVELAND; BENJAMIN HARRISON; GROVER CLEVELAND; WILLIAM MCKINLEY; ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

    Autograph Album of the Presidents and Cabinet Officials of the United States of America.

    : .

    Rare late 19th century folio album containing an extensive collection of Presidential autographs, letters, carte-de-visites, and portraits in addition to those of each Cabinet. Folio, bound in three quarter morocco with five raised bands and gilt titles to the spine. The album contains: a clipped signature of President George Washington with a four-page letter of provenance dated July 13 1948, several portraits of him including two rare carte-de-visites as well as a carte-de-visite of Martha Washington; and autograph letter signed by John Adams as President to Benjamin Lincoln, Quincy, July 23, 1799; a clipped document signed by Thomas Jefferson as President and James Madison as Secretary of State with numerous portraits of each; a trimmed ship’s passport signed by James Monroe; clipped signatures of Andrew Jackson and Martin van Buren; autograph letter signed by William Henry Harrison, North Bend, March 4, 1840; clipped signature of James Tyler; clipped document signed by James H. Polk as President and countersigned by James Buchanan as Secretary of State with the Presidential Seal intact; a card signed by Zachary Taylor and members of his cabinet; slipped signature of Millard Fillmore; autograph letter signed by James Buchanan; clipped signature of Franklin Pierce; clipped signatures of Abraham Lincoln, William Seward, and Andrew Johnson; clipped signature of Ulysses S. Gran with numerous portraits of him including a rare carte-de-visite; clipped signature and autograph not signed by Rutherford B. Hayes, March 21, 1892; autograph note signed by James Garfield, Menton, Ohio June 22, 1880; signature card of Chester A. Arthur dated November 15, 1881; an autograph letter signed by Grover Cleveland on White House stationery, dated September 1, 1887; a card signed by Benjamin Harrison; a signature card signed by Grover Cleveland; and a letter signed by William McKinley, 27 February 1892. The Presidential autographs and portraits are followed by extensive section of cabinet officials including: a clipped signature of Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury; an autograph letter signed by Albert Gallatin; clipped signatures of Aaron Burr, John Armstrong, John Calhoun, and Henry Clay; autograph note signed by Daniel Webster; card signed by James Polk, James Buchanan and other members of his cabinet; autograph letter signed by Edward Everett; autograph note signed by Jefferson Davis and other members of the Confederacy including Howell Cobb and James Thompson; autograph note signed by William H. Seward, dated 1855; and a note signed by Gideon Welles on Navy Department stationery in addition to dozens of other notable American public figures including cabinet officials and Vice-Presidents. In very good condition. An exceptional rarity.

    Price: $82,000.00     Item Number: 129509

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  • "with sincere gratitude" First Edition of James Truslow Adams' The Epic of America; Warmly Inscribed by Him

    ADAMS, JOHN TRUSLOW.

    The Epic of America.

    Boston: Little, Brown and Company 1947.

    Early printing of the work which introduced the term “American dream” into the lexicon and the “single best volume of American history” (Allan Nevins). Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Dr. D. B. Hardenbergh with sincere gratitude from James Truslow Adams. 9a and 9. It was the Bible Matthew chap 18 verses 12 & 13!!” In near fine condition. Illustrated by M.J. Gallagher. Uncommon signed and inscribed.

    Price: $600.00     Item Number: 138046

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