Books and Manuscripts

Adams, John
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America
London, printed, New-York, Re-printed and sold by H. Gaine, 1787. Second American edition. 12mo. xxiii, (i), 390, (4), (2) (ads) pp. Modern quarter brown calf over marbled paper-covered boards, brown morocco spine label, stamped in gilt; all edges trimmed; ownership signature of Postmaster General Ebenezer Hazard at top of title-page; scattered light spotting to text; small loss in top edge pp. 19/20, affecting headline. Evans 20176; Howes A-60; Sabin 233; Reese, The Federal Hundred 11 (first edition)

John Adams's enduring contribution to American political theory, considered the "landmark sourcebook on tripartite federal government." (The Papers of John Adams, Vol. 18, December 1785–January 1787). First published in London in 1787 while Adams served as the first United States Ambassador to England, he intended this work to refute European misrepresentations and ignorance of the political structure of America's state governments. The book's creation became an all-consuming project for Adams and quickly grew in size (a second and third volume followed in 1788) as he analyzed various historical constitutions and republics to put forth his argument in favor of constitutional government built on the separation of powers and robust checks and balances. The work's publication proved very timely and influenced the debates on the Federal Constitution the same year, but was later used against Adams by his political enemies during his presidency when he was accused of monarchical sympathies.

Ebenezer Hazard (1744-1817) was an American businessman, publisher, and government official, and served as the first Postmaster of New York City, surveyor general of the Continental Post Office in 1776, and as the third United States Postmaster General, from 1782-89.