Paine, Thomas

Estimate

12,000 - 18,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the following Subjects, I. Of the Origin and Design of Government in general, with concise Remarks on the English Constitution. II. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession. III. Thoughts on the present State of American Affairs. IV. Of the present Ability of America, with some miscellaneous Reflections. The Second Edition. Philadelphia: Printed, and Sold, by R. Bell, 1776
paper, ink

8vo (7 x 4 1/2 in.; 180 x 114 mm). Lacking A2 and L4 with final page of text, title-page chipped costing bits of 4 letters of first word of the title and with signature, pen-trials, and other annotations, B1-4 chipped at head costing bits of headline, L1 & 2 trimmed close to text (but integral, not supplied), scattered staining, mounted newspaper clipping bound between title and B1. Contemporary light blue paper wrappers; worn.

Literature

Gimbel CS-3; Evans 14964; Adams American Independence 222b

Catalogue Note

Bell's second edition of Common Sense. Paine's stirring renunciation of the sovereignty of George III, whom he termed a "hardened, sullen-tempered Pharaoh," found a remarkable reception among his new countrymen. Thirteen editions of Common Sense were printed in 1776 alone (including the rival publications of Bell and Bradford, as well as the German translation issued by Steiner and Cist), and Paine claimed that 120000 copies had been sold by April of that year. The political influence of the pamphlet was as extraordinary as its popularity: "It is not too much to say that the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776, was due more to Paine's Common Sense than to any one other single piece of writing" (Grolier American).