De la Democratie en Amerique. Paris: Charles Gosselin, 1835, 1840

FIRST EDITIONS. The most influential commentary on America in the nineteenth century, Democracy in America was based on Tocqueville’s travels in the United States in 1831 and 1832. Tocqueville came to America to study the American prison system on behalf of the French government. The book resulting from these investigations is generally considered the 19th century’s most insightful commentary on the development of our unique American culture and political system.

$58,000

On the Principles of Political Economy, and Taxation. London: John Murray, 1817

FIRST EDITION, one of only 750 copies. Ricardo’s greatest work, On The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation is a landmark of economic thought. It helped to bring about a shift in economic thought from the production to the distribution of commodities. It “is an inquiry into and elucidation of certain fundamental principles, most of which had previously been undiscovered” (McCulloch).

on consignment: $48,000

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.. London: Strahan and Cadell, 1776-1788

First editions of all six volumes of the most celebrated historical work in English literature. Gibbon’s Decline and Fall covers the thirteen centuries from the age of Trajan to the fall of Constantinople with unmatched erudition, clarity, and organization. “Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equaled to this day; and the result was clothed in an inimitable prose” (PMM).

$48,000

The Haggadah. London: Beaconsfield Press, [1940]

FIRST EDITION of the greatest Haggadah of the 20th century, finely printed in color on vellum, one of only 250 numbered signed copies.  The entire edition of the celebrated Szyk Haggadah, was printed on vellum and signed by both Szyk and Roth.  The trade edition did not appear until 1956.

$48,000

Critik der reinen Vernunft. Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1781

FIRST EDITION. The Critique of Pure Reason, Kant’s greatest work, represents the starting point of modern philosophy.

$45,000

A Room of One’s Own. New York: The Fountain Press; London: Hogarth Press, 1929

FIRST EDITION, preceding the trade edition. One of 492 copies signed by Virginia Woolf, this copy noted as “out of series’ on the limitation page. This is a very rare presentation copy of Woolf’s landmark feminist text. Woolf has inscribed and signed the book in purple ink to Cambridge philosopher R. B. Braithwaite.

$42,000

This Boke Sheweth the Maner of Measurynge All Maner of Lande, as Well of Woodlande, as of Lande in the Felde and Comptynge the True Nombre of Acres of the Same. [edited by Thomas Paynell.]. Southwark: James Nicolson, [1537 or 1538?]

FIRST EDITION of “the first English textbook on geometrical land-measurement and surveying” (Buisseret, Monarchs, Ministers, and Maps). The book focused on practical methods calculating everything from the amount of stone needed to pave a chamber floor to the size of a pasture or field” marking “the beginning of a new interest in measuring not just the assets of the land, but the land itself” (D. K. Smith, Cartographic Imagination in Early Modern England).

$35,000

Principes du Droit Politique [Du Contract Social]. Amsterdam: Michel Rey, 1762

FIRST EDITION, type B, the definitive authorized version. Observing in his opening words that “man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains,” Rousseau offered this work as a yardstick with which to judge existing governments. He argued that the central problem is to “find a form of association which can defend and protect with all the power of the community the person and possessions of each associate, and by which each person unites himself with all, but only obeys himself and thereby remains as free as before.”

$28,000

Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. Princeton: University Press, 1944

FIRST EDITION. Inscribed by Oskar Morgenstern: “To Dan Maxim, with esteem and warm regards Oskar Morgenstern July 1971 Have you found the set-theoretical hiding in this book?”

$28,000

Description of the ENIAC and Comments on Electronic Digital Computing Machines. N.p.: Applied Mathematics Panel, National Defense Research Committee, November 30, 1945

FIRST EDITION of the rare internal first report on the operational ENIAC, “the world’s first large-scale electronic general-purpose digital computer.” This is copy number 191, marked “Restricted.” Inscribed and signed by Herman H. Goldstine, co-author and one of the project founders.

$27,000