[Americana] Democratic Society of Friends of the People

CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE. Established at Philadelphia, 13th April, 1805 [bound with] THE CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE SOCIETY OF "FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE." Addressed to the Republicans of the State of Pennsylvania, Generally

Philadelphia: Wm. Duane, 1805. Original Wrappers. Good binding. Item #7394

Octavo. 8; 11, [1 (blank)] pp. As issued, stitched into plain wrappers; untrimmed; "Circular" is partially unopened. Stitching is perished, wrappers are separated at the spine and loose from the text; the very generous margins are worn at the edges; generally toned and spotted, nevertheless, a fairly well preserved copy of what are remarkably uncommon pamphlets--according to OCLC there are scarcely more than half a dozen of each in institutional holdings.

Rare documents of the Philadelphia branch of the Society of Friends of the People which aimed "to cultivate a just knowledge of rational liberty, to facilitate the enjoyment and exercise of our civil rights, to maintain 'that all power is inherent in the people and all free governments founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness. . . .'" (p. 4). Of the first work there a slightly shorter variant recorded by Shaw & Shoemaker (9395) and Sabin (86073) that is fundamentally the same but lacking the "Bye Laws" and "Rules and Order." This present variant of the first title is not recorded by Sabin. The appended circular is Sabin 86072. Shaw & Shoemaker 9396 & 9394.

Price: $250.00