First Serial Printing Of The U.S. Constitution: Mathew Carey’s 1787 American Museum, Especially Rare In Original Boards 16. (CONSTITUTION) CAREY, Mathew, editor. The American Museum, Or Repository of Ancient and Modern Fugitive Pieces, &c. Prose and Poetical. Volume II, Numbers I-VI. Philadelphia, July-December, 1787. Thick octavo, original marbled boards rebacked and recornered to style in brown calf gilt. $18,500. Click for more info First edition of a true American classic: Mathew Carey’s American Museum for 1787 (Volume II: Nos. I-VI), containing in the September issue the first serial printing of the U.S. Constitution and featuring the first serial printings of the first six Federalist papers issued outside of New York City, in original marbled boards. Mathew Carey’s pioneering magazine, The American Museum “shares with Columbian Magazine the honor of being the first successful American magazine” (Mott, 100). The American Museum fast became the source of first resort for governmental information, including the proceedings of Congress, activities of cabinet departments, texts of state constitutions, treaties with foreign countries, and current international developments. The September 1787 issue is especially important offering the first serial printing of the U.S. Constitution—arguably the most important of all American documents (276ff.). While Columbian Magazine also contains the Constitution in its September issue, evidence gathered from newspaper advertisements of the time suggest The American Museum’s issue preceded Columbian’s by two days. Carey’s “magazine of great excellencies,” also presents among the first serial printings of the initial Federalist papers, printing “the first six papers in November and December 1787” (Crane, 590). With list of subscribers, including Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton and John Dickinson. Mispagination as issued without loss of text. Evans 20194. Sabin 1162. ESTC P5392. Early owner signature of Samuel L. Lewis. Trace of early inked initials to fore-edge. Occasional faint marginalia. Interior generally fresh with light scattered foxing, faint occasional dampstaining, tiny bit of scattered marginal edge-wear without affecting text, mild rubbing to original marbled boards. February 2022 – 18 – Bauman Rare Books
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