– 62 – N e w A c q u i s i t i o n s Rare First American Editions Of Tocqueville’s Classic Democracy In America 72. TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Democracy in America. Translated by Henry Reeve, Esq. With an Original Preface and Notes by John C. Spencer. WITH: Democracy in America. Part the Second, The Social Influence of Democracy. New York, 1838, 1840. Two volumes. Octavo, original blind-stamped brown cloth, custom clamshell box. $12,000. Rare and important first American editions of both parts of Tocqueville’s great influential analysis of American democracy, one of the outstanding intellectual achievements of the 19th century, highly elusive in original cloth. Tocqueville’s work originated in a trip commissioned by the French government to study the American penal system in 1831-1832. “In 1835, the first volume appeared (in French), and throughout the intellectual circles of western Europe both democracy and America took on a new aspect and a new significance in political speculation” (NYU, 955). In his nine-month stay in the United States, Tocqueville absorbed a remarkable sense of the spirit and maintenance of democracy, and he affirms his faith in mankind’s ability to pursue the democratic society. The Reeve translation of part I was first published in London in 1835; this contains the first American edition of the second part (issued same year as the London edition), as well as the true first American edition of the first part (one of two editions from New York in 1838: easily distinguishable by the printer’s imprint on the verso of the title leaf). Volume I with early owner signature above title page; Volume II with early owner inscription on front pastedown. Text generally fresh with scant edge-wear, early inkmark and toning to spine of Volume I, early leaves with foxing, small bit of corner dampstaining, scattered marginal foxing within, wear to spine ends of Volume II. A very good two-volume set, rarely found together in original unrestored cloth.
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