The federalist: a collection of essays, written in favour of the new Constitution, as agreed upon by the Federal convention, September 17, 1787, in two volumes.

Uniform title
Format
Book
Language
English
Published/​Created
New-York : Printed and sold by J. and A. M'Lean ..., 1788.
Description
2 v. ; 17 cm.

Details

Subject(s)
Former owner
Binder
Donor
Bookseller
Related name
Rare books genre
Medium/​Support
12mo. rdabf
Summary note
The Federalist is considered the most important work on statecraft and political theory ever written by Americans. Seventy-seven of the 85 essays that make up the work appeared in New York newspapers between October 1787 and May 1788 under the pseudonym "Publius." The eight additional essays first appeared in the second volume of the work presented here, and in the newspapers later in 1788. Principally written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, with some assistance from John Jay, the primary purpose of the essays was to convince the citizens of New York to elect to a state ratifying convention delegates who would favor the new United States Constitution, adopted in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The essays were rushed into print in book form in two volumes in the spring of 1788, numbers 1-39 as volume 1 on March 22, and numbers 40-85 as volume 2 on May 28. Together these essays, often referred to as The Federalist Papers, form one of the great classics of government, the principal themes of which are federalism, checks and balances, separated powers, pluralism, and popular representation. In part because Hamilton and Madison were important participants in the Philadelphia convention, The Federalist became the most authoritative interpretation of what the drafters of the Constitution intended, one that continues to influence the development and interpretation of American constitutional law. Presented here is Thomas Jefferson's personal copy of the first edition of The Federalist, with notes in his hand indicating his understanding regarding the authorship of each essay. Hamilton left an authorship list with his lawyer before his fatal duel with Aaron Burr, and Madison identified the writer of each essay in his copy of The Federalist. None of these lists agree, and authorship of some of the essays is still being debated by scholars. The New York convention met in Poughkeepsie in June 1788 and on July 26 voted in favor of ratification by the narrow margin of 30 to 27. World Digital Library.
Notes
  • First complete edition. cf. The Foederalist ... [ed.] by Henry B. Dawson. New York, 1863. Introduction: p. xxiii, lv-lxiii.
  • Princeton copy 1 2 v. in 1.
  • Princeton copy 1 of v.1. imperfect: p. [i]-iv (incl. t.-p.) and p. 217-227 wanting. Typed t.-p. supplied from EX copy.
  • Princeton copy 1 (Lapidus copy): inscribed on verso of title page 'The Federalist,' which belonged to the General during his life time, in which be bad designated in his own handwriting, the parts of that celebrated work written by himself, as well as those contributed by Mr. Jay and Madison .'
  • Princeton copy 1 (Lapidus copy): And on the recto of the preliminary blank leaf, in Hamilton's handwriting: “ Nos 2, 3, 4, 5, 54, Mr. Jay - 10, 14, 37 to 48 inclusive — Madison — 18, 19, 20, Hamilton and Madison Jointly — All the rest by Hamilton." The names of the writers of the first five numbers have been written in ink at the head of each number.
Creation/​Production credits
Essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.
Binding note
  • Princeton copy 1 Calf with double fillet in gold, gold tooling on dentelles, decorated spine tooled in gold with dark brown labels, all edges gold, and marbeled endpapers. Stamped on front free endpaper "Bound by W. Pratt."
  • Princeton copy 1 (Lapidus copy): Three quarter red leather; marbled boards; marbled endpapers.
Contents
Includes Articles of the new constitution.
Provenance
  • Princeton copy 1 On title page, signatures: Cornelius C. Schoonmaker, Zacariah Schoonmaker.
  • Princeton copy 1 Bookplate of Edwin B. Holden.
  • Princeton copy 1 (Lapidus copy): Bookplate of E.D. Church.
  • Princeton copy 1 (Lapidus copy): Claimed by E.D. Church to have been Alexander Hamilton's own copy.
  • Princeton copy 1 (WHS) acquired 1/20/34 from Heartman; inv. 626.
Source acquisition
  • Princeton copy 1; Gift; C. W. McAlpin.
  • Princeton copy 2; Gift; Cleveland Hoadley Dodge '78; 1949.
  • Princeton copy 3; Gift; Arthur C. Holden; 1987.
  • Princeton copy 4 Gift Sidney Lapidus, Princeton Class of 1959, 2010.
References
  • ESTC W5416
  • Sabin 23979
  • Church 1230
  • Evans 21127
Other format(s)
Also available in an electronic version.
Place name(s)
New York (State) New York.
LCCN
09021562
OCLC
1925243
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