Rational communism: The present and the future republic of North America

The Social science Pub. Co, 1885-01-01. Hardcover. Good. 1885 first edition, The Social Science Publishing Co. (New York), 5 x 7 1/2 inches tall decorated blue cloth hardcover, no dust jacket, front panel stamped in black, rear panel stamped in blind, gilt lettering to spine, yellow endpapers, 498 pp., complete. Slight rubbing and edgewear, and moderate to heavy soiling/staining to covers, with mild bumping to all four tips. 1891 prior owner's name to blank front free-endpaper. Yellow rear free-endpaper has been glued to rear pastedown, and the adjacent blank rear free-endpaper has some tearing near the gutter. Otherwise, apart from very slight age toning, a very good copy of this scarce title. References: Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, p. 74; Rooney, Dreams and Visions: A Study of American Utopias, 1865-1917, p. 199. ~WW~ [2.0P] Writing as 'A Capitalist,' Alonzo Van Deusen (1829-1908) lays out his utopian vision of communism. Just 12 years after its founding in San Diego, this was published by The Truth Seeker, the most influential Freethought publication during the period following the Civil War into the first decades of the 20th century, known as the Golden Age of Freethought. The author takes great pains to point out 'that intelligent Communism, or a well-devised system of collective property, is not that infamous property system which it is usually taught us would plunge mankind into confusion, anarchy, and bloodshed, sap their energies, subvert all progress, and destroy civilization itself.' - Arthur Lewis, Utopian Literature, p. 194.