The Rights of Man, by Thomas Paine [SOLD]

“One of the two foundation texts of the English working-class movement” ; “the textbook of radical thought and the clearest of all expositions of the basic principles of democracy” (- both PMM).

Paine, Thomas.

Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke’s Attack on the French Revolution /bound with/ Rights of Man. Part the Second. Combining Principle and Practice.

First edition, second state; with a Seventh edition of Part the Second.

Rights of Man was first published earlier in 1791 by Johnson, who “took fright” at its radicalism (PMM) and stopped printing; Jordan printed the second issue with the preface added. After the publication of Part The Second, in which Paine advocates the right of the people to revolt against their government if it does not advocate their natural rights, J. S. Jordan was charged with seditious libel, pleaded guilty and turned his papers over to the government, who, in turn, charged Paine with the same. Paine left for France, and was convicted in absentia; this conviction emboldened the Pitt government to seek further prosecutions for sedition. Eleven other printers of the title were subsequently tried and prosecuted.

London: J. S. Jordan, 1791 ; 1792. Pagination: frontispiece, title page, dedication to George Washington, Preface to the English Edition ([vii]-x), text ([5]-162). Part the Second: Title Page, dedication, Preface ([vii]-xv), Contents, text ([1]-178). 8vo. Bound in tree calf, with gilt borders, gilt decoration to spine, red title label. Topstain. Frontispiece engraved portrait, by Sharp after Romney, dated 1794 – likely from the second title but placed in front of the first by the binder. Repair to rear joint, newer endpapers. Scuffing to edges and front joint, some loss at head of spine, spot to top corner of first hundred pages, contents otherwise quite clean and unmarked, binding sound.

Howes P-31; Printing and the Mind of Man 241; Grolier, English, 129. (#051229)

$15,000.00 USD