A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United Sates of America
- xx, [3]-390 pp. 1 vols. 8vo
- Philadelphia: Printed for Hall and Sellers; J. Crukshank; and Young and M'Culloch, 1787
Philadelphia: Printed for Hall and Sellers; J. Crukshank; and Young and M'Culloch, 1787. First American edition. xx, [3]-390 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Contemporary calf, red morocco lettering piece, a bit rubbed, joints starting but cords holding. Bottom fore-edge corner of title torn not affecting text, minor foxing and browning. Housed in a cloth box. Provenance: William Parret (signature dated 1789); Thomas Emmerson (typographic bookplate dated 1794); later inscriptions and signatures. First American edition. xx, [3]-390 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Written and originally published in London in 1787, at the time Adams was serving as the first United States ambassador in England, an uncomfortable position for a recent rebel, but he was ever ready to argue the American point of view. Here he forcibly states the principles on which he perceived the United States to be founded. He calls for a doctrine of the separation of powers, a system of checks and balances, and a legislature of two houses.
Its issuance as the Federal Constitutional Convention was assembling added to its popularity and resulted in several American reprintings, and according to the DAB, "its timeliness gave it vogue." The work's timely publication and thesis influenced the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and played an important role in the development of American political theory.
Given the meeting of the Constitutional Convention, the present Philadelphia 1787 edition is particularly desirable. This copy with provenance to William Parrret, perhaps William Parrett (1752-1804), a revolutionary war soldier, prominent citizen of Salem, NJ and member of the state legislature and the legislative council. Subsequent provenance is to Thomas Emmerson (1773-1838), the first Mayor of Knoxville and noted Tennessee jurist. Howes A60; Evans 20176; Sabin 233; ESTC W20113
Its issuance as the Federal Constitutional Convention was assembling added to its popularity and resulted in several American reprintings, and according to the DAB, "its timeliness gave it vogue." The work's timely publication and thesis influenced the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and played an important role in the development of American political theory.
Given the meeting of the Constitutional Convention, the present Philadelphia 1787 edition is particularly desirable. This copy with provenance to William Parrret, perhaps William Parrett (1752-1804), a revolutionary war soldier, prominent citizen of Salem, NJ and member of the state legislature and the legislative council. Subsequent provenance is to Thomas Emmerson (1773-1838), the first Mayor of Knoxville and noted Tennessee jurist. Howes A60; Evans 20176; Sabin 233; ESTC W20113