The History of the First Discovery and Settlement of Virginia. Williamsburg: William Parks, 1747

First edition, first issue. The later issues may have been printed as late as 1753. This is a lovely copy of Stith’s classic history of Virginia from its establishment in 1607 through the dissolution of the Virginia Company of London in 1624, written by the third president of the College of William & Mary.

$22,000

American Mahogany Butler’s Desk from the Holmes family home at 296 Beacon Street, Boston. American, ca. 1930

Justice Holmes’s butler’s desk from the family home on Beacon Street.

$22,000

Profiles in Courage. New York: Harper, 1956

FIRST EDITION. Presentation copy inscribed by Kennedy: “For Alfred Eisenstaedt with every good wish John Kennedy.”

$22,000

English Liberties, Or The Free-Born Subject’s Inheritance: Containing Magna Charta . . . The Habeas Corpus Act, And Several Other Statutes. Boston: Printed by J. Franklin, for N. Buttolph, B. Eliot, and D. Henchman, 1721

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. This volume, one of the very first law books printed in colonial America, contains the first American printing of Magna Carta and other fundamental documents of individual liberty in Anglo-American law. Magna Carta has become “a sacred text, the nearest approach to an irrepealable ‘fundamental statute’ that England has ever had” (Pollock & Maitland)

$20,000

Sketches of the Life, Writings, and Opinions of Thomas Jefferson,… Selections of … Private Correspondence.. New York: Francis and Boardman, 1832

FIRST EDITION. An outstanding Democratic Party association copy. Inscribed and signed as president by Martin Van Buren to Mr. & Mrs. O’Neil, dated Oct 30, 1838.

$18,000

History of the United States of America during the first administration of Thomas Jefferson. New York: Scribner’s, 1889

FIRST EDITION. Presentation copy inscribed by Adams:  “For Aunt Eunice with the warmest regards of Henry Adams 1889.”

$17,500

The Holy Quran [Koran]. Lahore, 1973

Presentation copy inscribed by Muhammad Ali to his friend, trainer, cornerman, adviser, inspiration, and phrase-coiner “To Drew Bundini Brown from Muhammad Ali Your Brother Make your life, for the work of Allah 20/6/75 Peace and Love Forever.”

$16,500

The Country Builder’s Assistant. Boston: Spotswood & Etheridge, for the author, 1798

The enlarged second edition of Asher Benjamin’s rare first book. This cornerstone of American architecture is the earliest original American architectural book.

$15,000

Final Report of Gen. John J. Pershing, Commander-in Chief, American Expeditionary Force. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1920

FIRST EDITION. An outstanding presentation copy inscribed by Pershing: “To M. le Maréchal Joffre with sincere esteem and affectionate regards, and with gratitude for his friendship and wise counsel. John J. Pershing Washington D.C.”

$12,500

Anna Lowell’s collection of 35 broadsides and one signed manuscript document for Armory Square Hospital. Washington, 1863-65

This is a tremendous collection of broadside orders for the principal military hospital in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War. Most are signed in print by one of the leading figures in United States military medicine, Doctor [his real first name] Willard Bliss, M.D. Bliss headed the Armory Square Hospital, a military hospital for Union soldiers, on the National Mall in 1862-65. The National Air and Space Museum now stands in its place.

$12,500