Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana

2 volumes, 12mo (165 x 95 mm). (4pp. listing contents of vol.2 bound in at the end, rather than after title-page, endpapers a bit browned near edges.) Contemporary mottled calf, 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, contemporary red skiver lettering-pieces gilt in second compartments (joints separating, some wear to spine ends, slight vertical split along spine of vol.2, corners rubbed). Provenance: Presumably David Olmstead (early ownership signature on front free endpaper "D. Olmstead," see below); George Allen (ownership signature on title-page and on early text leaf dated 1813); authors identified in each article in a contemporary hand [Olmstead's?], a few marks in margins.

"ONE OF THE NEW NATION'S MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE THEORY OF GOVERNMENT" (PMM).

A RARE THICK PAPER COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION, collecting the 85 seminal essays written in defense of the newly drafted Constitution and published under the pseudonym "Publius" in various New York newspapers; the complete text of the Constitution, headed "Articles of the New Constitution," and the resolutions of the Constitutional Convention (signed in type by Washington) appear on pp.368-384 of vol.2.

"Justly recognized as a classic exposition of the principles of republican government" (R.B. Bernstein, Are We to be a Nation? The Making of the Constitution, 1987, p.242). The Federalist essays grew out of the heated pamphlet wars engendered by the question of the ratification of the Constitution. Hamilton enlisted John Jay and James Madison (a Virginia delegate) to collaborate on a series of essays supporting the new plan of government and refuting the objections of its detractors. "Hamilton wrote the first piece in October 1787 on a sloop returning from Albany...He finished many pieces while the printer waited in a hall for the completed copy" (R. Brookhiser, Alexander Hamilton: American, 1999, pp.68-69). Due to Jay's illness and Madison's return to Virginia, most of the 85 essays, in the end, were written by Hamilton. "Despite the hurried pace at which they worked--they ground out four articles nearly every week--what began as a propaganda tract, aimed only at winning the election for delegates to New York ratifying convention, evolved into the classic commentary upon the American Federal system" (F. McDonald, Alexander Hamilton: A Biography, p.107). Washington who had served as President of the Constitutional Convention, wrote that The Federalist "will merit the Notice of Posterity; because in it are candidly and ably discussed the principles of freedom and the topics of government, which will always be interesting to mankind."

The Federalist was printed in two issues, one on regular, thin paper and a smaller number on thick paper, as here. The thick-paper issues are considerably rarer and were presumably intended for presentation. There have been just seven other thick-paper copies recorded at auction in the past 50 years. This copy bears the watermark resembling Britannia enthroned on the front endpapers in vol.1., the paper presumably by Samuel Levis. This watermark has also been seen on bank notes in Connecticut issued by Oliver Wolcott, dated 1789. The Levis family were early American papermakers in the Pennsylvania region.

This copy was presumably owned by David Olmstead (1748-1845), a Captain during the American Revolution who served honorably at West Point, Fairfield and at the Battle of Ridgefield. Prior to the War, Olmstead married Abigail Ingersoll in 1768. Abigail was daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Ingersoll, minister of the First Congregational Church and a cousin of Jared Ingersoll (1749-1822), who helped draft and then sign the Constitution as a representative for Pennsylvania. Church 1230; Cohen 2818; Evans 21127; Federal Hundred 19; Ford 17; Grolier American 19; Howes H-114 ("d"=very rare); PMM 234; Sabin 23979; Streeter sale 1049.