[Americana] Burr, Aaron. The Trial of Col. Aaron Burr, on an Indictment for Treason...

Washington City: Printed by Westcott & Co., 1807. In three volumes. First edition. 8vo. 147, (1), (3)-135, (3); 465; 418, l, (4) pp.; pp. 35-42 repeated in first volume. Full contemporary brown sheep, decorated in blind, rebacked to style, red morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, boards and extremities lightly worn and rubbed; all edges trimmed; contemporary ownership signature on title-page of first and second volumes; ownership ink stamp on front paste-down of second and third volumes; spotting and scattered staining to text. Howes B-1013; Sabin 9433; Eberstadt 134-68; Graff 506; Tompkins, Burr 18

First edition of all three volumes of the account of the trial of Aaron Burr for treason, "the most exciting trial held in this country during the first half of the nineteenth century." (Graff) Considered "the rarest and best account of the trial" (Eberstadt), it is Burr's own report on the proceedings, and is almost always found without the third volume.

Burr was rejected by his own party, the Democratic-Republicans, for opposing Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 presidential election runoff in the House of Representatives, and was then shunned by the Federalists for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Seeking better fortunes, Burr went West, which included a rogue military adventure to seize lands belonging to Spain in Louisiana and Mexico, with incentive given to the Western states to join his plot. However, Burr's longtime friend, General James Wilkinson, decided to abandon this dubious plan and instead informed the the federal government. President Jefferson did not look kindly on his former Vice President's conspiracy to entice the Western states to leave the Union and join with him as he colonized new lands with the support of England. Jefferson alerted Congress and ordered Burr's arrest. Firm in his belief that Burr was a traitor, Jefferson had him charged as such, but luckily for Burr, Chief Justice John Marshall was Jefferson's longtime political foe and would preside over Burr's trial, where he was eventually acquitted. A pariah, after the trial Burr fled to Europe, where he laid low for a number of years, and later returned to America where he lived out his remaining days in relative obscurity while he practiced law.

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Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

[email protected]267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

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[Americana] Burr, Aaron. The Trial of Col. Aaron Burr, on an Indictment for Treason...

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