Rare Americana from David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books has published their Catalogue 201 of Rare Americana. Having completed #200 last month they are now on the road to 300. It will take some time. Most of what they offer comes from the 19^th century, though some items bleed to the left or right of it. The catalogue is filled with pamphlets, documents, letters, photographs, material not necessarily meant to last as long as books. They were meant to express views on the issues of the day, not history, but today, such items when they have survived, are history lessons for us now. Here are a few samples of what is to be found.

The Oneida Community was a communal living colony in Oneida, New York, formed in 1848. The members practiced “free love,” everyone in the community being married to everyone else rather than having exclusive relationships. To say they were ahead of their time in the mid-19^th century is an understatement, since few have reached this level of freedom even today. Therefore it is not surprising this pamphlet would come from the Oneida Community, its presumed author being Oneida leader John Humphrey Noyes. The title is Slavery and Marriage. A Dialogue, published in 1850. The speakers are Mr. Free Church, Major South, and Judge North. In response to Major South's defense of slavery, Mr. Free Church comments, “The truth is Marriage gives man the power of ownership over woman, and such power is as wrong and prolific of wrong in the case of Marriage, as that of Slavery.” To Judge North's objection that the law protects woman from the violence of her husband, Mr. Free Church replies, “As in the case of slavery, this protection applies only in extreme cases.” Item 81. Priced at $450.

Samuel Stanhope Smith was a clergyman and educator. For 17 years, he served as President of Princeton University. In this 1787 book, he takes a stab at evolutionary theory, but he did not come to Darwin's conclusion about natural selection. He rejected the theory that different races were caused by separate creations. He was a believer in evolution, but he concluded that differences based on environment, climate, exposure to different cultures and such could change humans physically. It was a step. His book is Essay on the Causes of Variety of Complexion and Figure in the Human Species. Item 105. $1,000.

Next is an account of a trial resulting from what is known as the Christiana Riot. It took place in Christiana, Pennsylvania, in 1851. Christiana is located 20 miles north of Maryland, where slavery was still in practice. Four slaves had escaped from their owner, Edward Gorsuch. As a result of the Compromise of 1850, northerners were require to assist in the capture of escaped slaves. Gorsuch obtained a warrant under the Fugitive Slave Act and proceeded to Christiana. He brought the law along with him to assist in returning the slaves. Christiana had become home to many escaped slaves and free Blacks, along with some white sympathizers. A large number of these people gathered at a house where two of the slaves were staying when Gorsuch came calling. The details of what happened are unclear, but in the end, Gorsuch lay dead and his son seriously wounded. That led to charges against 41 participants, five white, 36 black. Castner Hanway was one of the whites, and this is the Report of the Trial of Castner Hanway for Treason, in the Resistance of the Execution of the Fugitive Slave Law of September, 1850. Before Judges Grier and Kane... The charge of treason was extreme but the government sought to make a point. Instead, Justice Grier instructed the jury that refusing to aid in the apprehension of a runaway slave did not constitute treason. It took the jury only 15 minutes to acquit Hanway and with that verdict, the government decided not to pursue charges against the other 40. Item 92. $1,000.

Many people assume That George Washington's service to his country concluded with the ending of his second term as President in 1797. Not true. He had one more act of service, a role he held for the last year and a half of his life. That final service is captured in this broadside, General Washington's Letter, Declaring His Acceptance of the Command of the Armies of the United States, printed in 1798. Relations with France, America's Revolutionary War ally, turned sour in the 1790s. Different interpretations of earlier treaties led to conflicts, with French privateers attacking American merchant ships. Meanwhile, America became more friendly with their prior enemy, Britain. The result was the Quasi War, skirmishes of various sorts but never a real hot war. However, concerns were such that President John Adams turned to his old leader to take control of the Army. With some reluctance, Washington agreed, on the condition he not be called into the field unless it was necessary, and that he receive no pay. Washington remained as Commander in Chief of the army for the remainder of his life but was not called into action, serving from his home at Mt. Vernon instead. Item 119. $17,500.

This is a letter from a man attending the sale of his slaves to his wife, evidently back home. On October 4, 1855, he writes, “I arrived here safely Thursday. The sale yesterday was largely attended & good prices were got for most articles. Your mother bought George for 350. A Mr. Headly bought Will at $1001. Lewis Castleman bot Dick at $1003. C.C. Rogers bot Rachel at 770. The land brought $65.04 per acre from a Mr. Clark... The negroes all have good homes tis said... The sale will amount to over $42,000... Kiss the children for me and for yourself dear wife accept the assurances of the continuing love and esteem of your devoted husband Micah.” Item 103. $375.

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books may be reached at 203-389-8111 or dmlesser@lesserbooks.com. Their website is www.lesserbooks.com.