DELUXE EDITION OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THOMAS PAINE

PAINE, Thomas. The Life and Writings of Thomas Paine… Edited and Annotated by Daniel Edwin Wheeler. New York: Vincent Parke and Company, (1908). Ten volumes. Octavo, modern three-quarter navy morocco, raised bands, top edges gilt. $8800.

Deluxe illustrated "Independence Edition" of the Centenary Issue of the writings of Thomas Paine, number 166 of only 500 numbered sets, signed on the limitation page by editor Daniel Edwin Wheeler.

Published in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Paine's death, this set contains all of Paine's major and miscellaneous writings, including Common Sense, The Rights of Man, The Crisis, The Age of Reason and his various essays, addresses, letters and poems. Volume I includes Rickman's biography of Paine and appreciations by Leslie Stephen, Paul Desjardins, Elbert Hubbard and others. Volume I with beautifully illuminated and colored borders on frontispiece portrait (after the painting of Paine by George Romney) and limitation page with facsimile of Paine's signature; that "Special De Luxe Independence Edition" illuminated limitation page identifying this set as number 470, with the plain limitation pages here and in other volumes giving number 166. Each volume with Goupil gravure and photogravure frontispiece plates hand-finished in color, the set illustrated with many other fine photogravure and facsimile plates including portraits of the leading American, English, and French figures of the time.

Bindings in very nearly fine condition. Internally clean; volume X (only) with intermittent pencil annotations and dampstaining to some outer page edges. A handsome, near-fine set.