HAMILTON, ALEXANDER; MADISON, JAMES; and JAY, JOHN. The Federalist: A Collection of Essays.

HAMILTON, ALEXANDER; MADISON, JAMES; and JAY, JOHN. The Federalist: A Collection of Essays. 2 volumes. 12mo, contemporary calf, worn, covers detached, losses to backstrips; library stamps and notations on title to volume one, early owner's signature on the front free endpaper of volume one (David Schuyler Bogart), else minor foxing and browning. A matched set, in contemporary but non-uniform bindings. New York: J. and A. M'Lean, 1788

first edition of the most important commentary on the constitution and arguably the most significant american contribution to political theory.
Issued by Hamilton, Madison and Jay in New York newspapers under the pseudonym Publius to garner support for the ratification of the Constitution, the first 36 numbers were published in book form in March 1788, with the remaining 49 (together with the text of the Constitution) in May of that year. Howes H114; Sabin 23979; Church 1230; Grolier, American 19; Evans 21127; PMM 234.
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