Washington, George | Washington's Farewell Address

Washington, George

The President's Farewell Address to the People of the United States. Philadelphia: J. Ormrod, 1796

8vo (196 x 103 mm). Woodcut vignette of a double-speared rod entwined with a laurel wreath and olive branch on title-page, woodcut headpiece on A2 and tailpiece on terminal leaf; publication date on title-page cropped, toned throughout. Half calf antique over green marbled boards.

Washington announces his intention to retire from public life at the expiration of his term as President. Styled on the title as “Ormrod’s Second Edition,” this is an early printing of Washington’s Farewell Address, one of the most famous utterances with a long legacy of influence on the country, both as a valedictory and for its advice to succeeding generations. In it, Washington urges political union, the avoidance of the “fury of partisanship” and foreign entanglements as well as the principle of voluntary retirement of the president after two terms (Grolier/American) .

The Address was first published by the printer Samuel Harrison Smith on 19 September 1796 in the Philadelphia newspaper, Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser. The following day, both Smith and Ormrod announced dual publication of the valedictory in pamphlet form, although priority between the two has never been firmly established. Its profound influence on the political thinking within the country is evidenced in its continued republication: Sabin records 139 separate editions.

PROVENANCE

John Allyn (signature on A2 with inscription “The Gift of Jed:a Southwo–) — Harvard College (faint library stamp on title-page verso)

REFERENCE

Celebration of My Country 135; Evans 31542; Howes W143; Federal Hundred 64; Sabin 101577; cf. Grolier/American 24 (Ormrod first edition)