(Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay)

The Federalist. A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787. … Vol. II. New York: Printed and Sold by J[ohn] and A[ndrew] M'Lean, 1788

2 copies of volume 2 only, 12mo (each 7 1/2 x 4 1/2 in.; 191 x 114 mm, uncut and largely unopened). Front endpapers and title-page of second issue with a light stain, versos of both titles and foot of first text page of second issue ink-stamped "Sold by order of Directors Sept. 19, 1924." Original boards, buff paper spines over blue covers, first issue with arabic numeral 2 stamped on spine, second issue with roman numeral II stamped on spine, second issue a trifle foxed and stained. Half brown morocco folding-box.

Bernstein, pp. 239–242; Church 1230; Evans 21127; Ford, Bibliotheca Hamiltoniana 17; Grolier, American 19; PMM 234; Sabin 23979; Streeter 2:1049

First editions, first and second issue, of volume 2 of The Federalist, containing the final forty-nine (of eighty-five) Federalist papers, together with the text of the Constitution and a roster of its signers. The final eight essays are in their first appearances, preceding their serial publication in newspapers. In the first issue, Federalist number LXX on page 240 is misnumbered LXXX; the numbering is corrected in the second issue.