Hamilton (Alexander) Madison (James) and John Jay. The Federalist; a Collection of Essays written …

Hamilton (Alexander) Madison (James) 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, 2 vol., first edition, printed on thick paper, vol.1 with two small old ink smudges on title, 36 blank leaves added after the text at the end, title and first leaf washed with slight fading to later ink ownership stamp of W. B. Crosby, next leaf slightly soiled, vol.2 title also with ink ownership stamp of W.B. Crosby also slightly faded, front endpapers with ink signature of William Bedlow, that in vol.2 dated 1787 and in vol.1 1788, other ownership inscriptions by later family members, contents leaves of both vol. with identification of author (name or initials) in ink, presumably in William Bedlow's hand, armorial bookplate of William Bedlow, contemporary tree calf with gilt-stamped Greek key design borders, flat spines fully gilt with contrasting green and red labels, each volume showing minor signs of restoration, especially to joints and spine ends, bumping and wear to corners, but overall near fine copies now preserved in a double-backed quarter calf drop-back box, gilt extra, by Trevor Lloyd, [Sabin 23979; Howes H114; PMM 234; Church 1230; Grolier, American 100, 19], 8vo (165 x 93mm.), New York, Printed and sold by J. and A. McLean, 1788. ⁂ An excellent copy with superb provenance of one of the most important works of Americana. The Bedlow-Crosby-Rutgers-Vanneck copy with family ownership dating back to the year of publication. The Federalist Papers is a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym 'Publius' to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution. Originally published in various New York state newspapers including The Independent Journal, New York Packet and the Daily Advertiser between October 27, 1787, and August 1788, they were finally published in book form in 1788, though the dated inscription in volume one would suggest that this volume at least appeared at the very end of 1787. "When Alexander Hamilton invited his fellow New Yorker John Jay and James Madison, a Virginian, to join him in writing the series of essays published as The Federalist, it was to meet the immediate need of convincing the reluctant New York State electorate of the necessity of ratifying the newly proposed Constitution of the United States. The 85 essays, under the pseudonym 'Publius,' were designed as political propaganda, not as a treatise of political philosophy. In spite of this, The Federalist survives as one of the new nation's most important contributions to the theory of government" (PMM, 234). The Federalist "exerted a powerful influence in procuring the adoption of the Federal Constitution, not only in New York but in the other states. There is probably no work in so small a compass that contains so much valuable political information. The true principles of a republican form of government are here unfolded with great clearness and simplicity" (Church 1230). "A generation passed before it was recognized that these essays by the principal author of the Constitution and its brilliant advocate were the most authoritative interpretation of the Constitution as drafted by the Convention of 1787. As a commentary and exposition of the Constitution, the influence of the Federalist has been profound" (Grolier American 100, 56)." Provenance: William Bedlow, (1722-1798), with his armorial bookplate on front pastedown in each volume and with his ownership signature dated 1788 in vol.I and dated 1787 [sic] in vol.II. He married Catharine Rutgers who was the mother of Catharine Bedlow who was the niece and heir of Colonel Henry Rutgers. William Bedlow Crosby (1786-1865) with his signature on the flyleaf of each volume and the signature "W.B. Crosby" on each title. Thereafter by marriage and descent to the present owners. This copy of The Federalist evidently remained in the ownership of William Bedlow and a succession of prominent and related New York families, during the whole of the 19th and 20th centuries, during which time there is no evidence that it was ever actually offered for sale. The original 18th century owner of this copy was William Bedlow (1722-1798), a New York resident who had been a sea captain and merchant, and who during the latter part of his life had evidently been engaged in public duties connected with the American war effort. He was chosen, on June 8, 1775, to be a member of the Committee of Secrecy and Inspection, whose duty it was to supervise the enforcement of the decrees of the Provincial Congress. An example of the work of the Committee is illustrated in Appendix A, being a report on the violation of the import rules being flouted by a ship landing illegal goods from Greenock in Scotland. The letter is dated New York, July 5, 1775. Bedlow was thus committed to the revolutionary cause from the outset. He was also on a committee of 48 tasked with conducting the election of officers for the military companies organised in New York [City]. In that same year (1775) Bedlow was appointed a "Commissioner for the Erection of Fortifications in the Highlands on the Hudson River" from 1775-1777, a theatre of war of the utmost importance for the defence of New York itself. A Dutch engineer, Bernard Romans, was appointed to supervise construction work, but this soon resulted in a complete breakdown between Romans and the three Commissioners (including Bedlow). Very little of military use was achieved and eventually Romans was dismissed in February 1776 [see Journal of the New York Provincial Congress, passim, and the Journal of the American Revolution, passim]. William Bedlow appears again in the historical records in the shape of a letter dated September 5, 1780, written by Bedlow from Clinton House to Richard Varick (1753-1831), the noted Revolutionary soldier who in 1780 had been deputy commissary-general of musters and, in 1780 aide to General Benedict Arnold at West Point. Bedlow asks for help to secure forage for his three horses, the forage master having died in post. [See George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence]. It is worth noting that Bedlow adds an interesting footnote to his letter in which he gives the news that "Mrs Bedlow and Mrs Rutgers" have gone on a journey together and that "Miss Rutgers & Miss Bedlow present their best respects to you". Bedlow's final public appointment seems to have been as Post-Master of New York City. Although the precise date of his appointment seems to be unknown, he submitted financial accounts for the Post Office from April 5, 1784 through October 1789. There is another extant letter to George Washington from William Bedlow, dated 27 September 1789, in which Bedlow clearly and bitterly complains about his unfair sacking from his role as Post Master of New York by Samuel Osgood (1747-1813), the …