“THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AMERICAN POLITICAL WORK”: IMPORTANT 1818 EDITION OF THE FEDERALIST, WITH MADISON’S REVISIONS
HAMILTON, Alexander; MADISON, James; and JAY, John. The Federalist on the New Constitution, Written in 1788… A New Edition. Philadelphia: Published by Benjamin Warner, 1818. Octavo, contemporary full tree calf, gilt decorated spine, later black morocco spine label.
Important fifth edition of the Federalist Papers, “the most influential American political work” (Howes), the Philadelphia imprint with Madison’s revisions and his claims of authorship over Hamilton, in full contemporary tree calf.
First published in 1788, "these 85 essays were designed as political propaganda, not as a treatise of political philosophy. In spite of this The Federalist survives as one of the new nation's most important contributions to the theory of government" (PMM 234). "It is the most important work in political science that has ever been written, or is likely ever to be written, in the United States. It is, indeed, the one product of the American mind that is rightly counted among the classics of political theory" (Clinton Rossiter). This is the second single-volume edition (the fifth overall), with an added appendix not included in the 1817 fourth edition and complete with full-page engraved portraits of Hamilton, Madison and Jay. Published the same year as Washington, D.C. issue, no priority established. Shaw & Shoemaker 44016. Sabin 23984. See Howes H114. 1824 owner signature on front free endpaper.
Endpapers browned, text unusually clean with only light occasional foxing; some light foxing to portraits; contemporary calf with some early restoration to spine. A near-fine copy of this important work, in full contemporary tree calf.