Books and Manuscripts

Charlottesville, (Virginia): Published by F. Carr, and Co., 1829. In four volumes. First edition. viii, (ii), 466; (iv), 500; (iv), 519; (iv), 532 pp. Edited by Thomas Jefferson Randolph. With half-titles in each volume, and four folding facsimile leaves in rear of Vol. IV reproducing Jefferson's handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Jefferson after Gilbert Stuart in Vol. IV. Original quarter cloth over blue paper-covered boards, remnants of original paper spine labels; boards worn and soiled; splits and tears in spines; rear board of Vol. II detached but holding; front board of Vol. IV starting; Vols. III and IV partially unopened; moderate to heavy foxing throughout set; large closed tear in top corner, p. 1/2 in Vol. II; several leaves in Vols. III and IV darkened; front free endpaper starting in Vol. IV. Howes R-60; Sabin 35891; Shoemaker 39133

Unsophisticated first edition set in original boards of Thomas Jefferson's writings, the first of his collected works published following his death, in 1826. "These volumes begin with a short fragment concerning (Jefferson) himself, drawn up at the age of seventy-seven; and close with a still shorter journal kept by him while Secretary of State during Washington's administration. The rest consists exclusively of a voluminous correspondence, ranging from 1775, after blood had been spilt at Boston, to June 1826, ten days only before his death, so appropriately fixed for the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence." (Sabin).

Scarce in original boards.