[Paine, Thomas; Chalmers, James]

Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America. [With:] Candidus [Chalmers, James]. Plain Truth: Addressed to the Inhabitants of America. Philadelphia printed; London reprinted, for J. Almon, 1776



8vo (8 x 5 in.; 204 x 127 mm). General half-title with advertisement on verso; light ink flourish on half-title. Disbound, in a blue half-morocco portfolio.

Copley bookplate

Gimbel CS-24

First edition of both Common Sense and Plain Truth to be published in England.

The author of the loyalist response to Common Sense was a wealthy planter from Maryland, with a prose style rich in literary and historical references, contrasting vividly with the Paine's plain language. The publisher's advertisement remarks: "The public have been amused by many extracts from the Pamphlet entitled Common Sense, which have been held up as Proof positive that the Americans desire to become independent; we are happy in this opportunity of publishing Plain Truth; which we take to be as good a Proof that the Americans do not desire to become independent."