The Federalist, On the New Constitution, Second Edition

1802. New York: George F. Hopkins, 1802. 2nd ed.. New York: George F. Hopkins, 1802. 2nd ed. Attractive Set of the Last Edition of The Federalist Published in Hamilton's Lifetime with Provenance [Hamilton, Alexander (1755 or 1757-1804)]. [Madison, James (1751-1836)]. [Jay, John (1745-1829)]. The Federalist, On the New Constitution. By Publius. Written in 1788. To Which is Added, Pacificus, On the Proclamation of Neutrality. Written in 1793. Likewise, The Federal Constitution, With All the Amendments. Revised and Corrected. New York: Printed and Sold by George F. Hopkins, 1802. Two volumes. viii, 317, [1]; v, [3], 351 pp. Volume I has two pages numbered 167 and two pages numbered 168, as noted on the errata sheet and with page numbering 263-270 repeated. 1 pp. publisher advertisement at rear of Volume II. Octavo (8-3/4" x 5-1/4"). Contemporary tree calf, lettering pieces, gilt fillets, ornaments and volume numbers to spines, repair to foot of Volume II, its front and rear boards neatly reattached, hinges mended. A few minor nicks and scuffs to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, minor chips to heads of spine, joints of Volume I cracked, its hinges starting. Moderate toning to interior, light foxing in places, offsetting to margins of endleaves, faint dampstaining to front endleaves of Volume II, minor worming to its rear pastedown, early owner signature (C.V.S. Levy) to front free endpaper and title page of both volumes. An attractive set. $12,500. * Second edition, "Revised and Corrected" with Hamilton's approval by George Hopkins. First published by the M'Lean brothers in March and May 1788, The Federalist collected a series of essays published in New York periodicals under the collective pseudonym "Publius" between October 1787 and May 1788 that encouraged ratification of the proposed constitution by New York State. (Most scholars agree that 51 were written by Hamilton, 29 by Madison and 5 by Jay.) Taken together, these essays were seen almost immediately as the most compelling commentary on the most radical form of government the world had seen. The second edition is significant because its preface establishes Hamilton, Madison and Jay as the authors and discusses the extent of their contributions. It is also the last edition published in Hamilton's lifetime. Published fourteen years after the U.S. Constitution's ratification, it includes the text of the U.S. Constitu.