Books and Manuscripts

(Paine, Thomas)
Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America…
Philadelphia, Printed; London, Re-Printed, For J. Almon, 1776. Second English edition, issue without general half-title and Plain Truth. (iv), 54 pp. Modern quarter brown calf, stamped in gilt, over marbled paper-covered boards; all edges trimmed; pp. 39-42 supplied from another copy; repaired closed tear in bottom edge of Introduction; scattered spotting to text. Adams, The American Controversy 76-107d, and American Independence 222y; Gimbel CS-30

Second English edition of this wildly popular pamphlet calling for Independence from Great Britain. It appeared in seven editions in Great Britain alone in 1776. Interestingly, it features sections omitted by the publisher that were critical of the King, appearing as blank spots in the text.

Provenance
Private Collection, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania