[Rarebooks] FS: First American Edition of de TOCQUEVILLE's DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA, 1838

[Charles Agvent]

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TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA. New York: Adlard &
Saunders/Dearborn  1838.  First American Edition in  the
original  blind-stamped and embossed brown cloth, neatly rebacked with
a  new sympathetic spine retaining the original label; xxx, 464 pages.
Translated  by Henry Reeve, Esq. with an original preface and notes by
John  C. Spencer. A second volume was published in 1840. At the age of
25,  Alexis  de  Tocqueville and a companion were sent to  the  United
States  by  the French government to study American prisons  in  1831.
During  his  nine  months  travel  Tocqueville  interviewed  prominent
figures  and  common  settlers, even meeting with Charles  Carroll  of
Maryland,    the  last  surviving  signer   of  the   Declaration   of
Independence.  His  notes from that journey formed the basis  of  this
book,  full  of insights on America and the American way of life,  and
of  great  influence  on most writings and thoughts about  the  United
States  since. As just one of many examples of his sharp  perceptions,
here  is  Tocqueville on money: "...I know of no other  country  where
love  of money has such a grip on men's hearts or where stronger scorn
is  expressed  for  the  theory of permanent  equality  of  property."
Mostly  light  foxing; old pencil notes on the rear  pastedown.  Faint
stain  on  the right border of about the first thirty or so pages  and
less  so  to the last thirty or so pages, but not  terrible  anywhere.
Very Good or better                                           $2500.00
-- 

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