This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2022
HAMILTON, Alexander (1755 or 1757–1804). The Federalist Papers, No. 1. [Appearing in:] The Pennsylvania Journal, and the Weekly Advertiser. Philadelphia: Thomas Bradford, 7 November 1787.
Bifolium (400 x 254 mm), old folds. RARE EARLY APPEARANCE OF ISSUE NO. 1 (THE GENERAL INTRODUCTION) OF “ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE THEORY OF GOVERNMENT” (PMM). Essay No. 1 begins “To the People of the State of New York”, signed “Publius” and penned by Alexander Hamilton.
The essay provides an outline for the rest and argues for the inadequacy of the Articles of Confederation. This fundamental essay published just 11 days after the first printing, which was published 27 October 1787 in The New York Packet and The Independent Journal, with the others published subsequently after in these two newspapers, The Federalist Papers would not be collected in book form until 1788. OCLC does not locate any copies institutionally and we could not locate any copies of this issue appearing at auction.