(Wirt, William) | One of the rarest accounts of the Burr treason trial

(Wirt, William)

The Two Principal Arguments of William Wirt, Esquire, on The Trial of Aaron Burr, for High Treason. Richmond, [Virginia]: Samuel Pleasants, 1808

24mo (151 x 90 mm). Lacking frontispiece portrait, small hole to title where ownership signature was removed, some foxing, minor browning. Full contemporary calf, edges stained yellow; overall rubbed, bookplate removed from front pastedown, front free endpaper torn with loss. [With:] Ernest Wessen. Typed letter signed ("Ernie"), and dated 20 February 1959, noting the scarcity of the present volume. 

William Wirt served as lead prosecutor in Aaron Burr's trial for treason. Wirt's two principle arguments, laid out in this volume, were ultimately unsuccessful, and Burr and his associates were acquitted.

REFERENCE

Howes W587; Sabin 104883; Streeter sale 1693; Tompkins 112