Search Results: Radicals, Revolutionaries, and Reformers from Quercus Rare Books

Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1900. Lewis Henry Morgan (1818-1881) is regarded as a pioneering anthropologist who was an influence on Darwin, Marx, and Engels. This is a Near Fine copy, a reprint by the socialist publisher Charles Kerr, from the original publication in 1877. Dark blue cloth binding with gilt lettering on the spine. Clean text; 570 pages, indexed, with three pages of publisher's adverts in the rear. No publication date is listed, but Quercus believes it to be in the range of 1900-1910, when Kerr was very active. A bit of rub to corners and margins of the spine, else a Fine copy. Solid, and quite readable today. Lacking a dustjacket. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Reprint.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/No Jacket.

New York: Henry H. Klein, 1915. Henry Klein (1879-1955), Jewish but a convert to Christianity, wrote many screeds that are anti-communist and anti-zionist. He believed that Roosevelt furthered a World Jewish Conspiracy. Quercus would describe Klein as within the most virulent forms of the American Know-Nothing tradition. Interest in his ideas today seems confined to World Conspiracists and White Supremacists. Nonetheless, this is a Very Good copy of the First Edition of one of his more obscure tracts, what seems to be a populist screed against the expense and corruption of public works such as bridges that cross rivers. Very scarce. Published by the author. Tan cloth binding, with what Quercus must admit is a great illustration on the front cover of a banker taking a mallet to what may be Liberty Hall. Clean text; 189 pages, including several ads for Klein's other works appended at the end; illustrated with the occasional cartoon. SIGNED and INSCRIBED on the FFEP in 1916. Mild bumping and light… Read More

Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1882. Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885), a classmate of Emily Dickenson who, initially writing anonymously (as "H.H."), was one of the best-known novelists of the 19th Century. She became a strong advocate for Native Americans; her popular romantic novel, "Ramona," has the serious purpose of pointing out the mistreatment of California Mission Indians, and has gone through many editions. "A Century of Dishonor" is her most famous non-fiction work; although initially ignored, it is still in print today. This is a Very Good copy of a Later Printing (the First Edition was 1873) of some of her reform-minded essays (e.g., the first three chapters cover "The Inhumanities of Parents"). Maroon cloth binding, decoratively stamped with gilt lettering on the cover and spine. Clean text; 239 pages; decorative endpapers, page endges stained red. Lightly rubbed at the margins, with light bumping. A cute little book by a major figure that has relevance… Read More

Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1908. Algie Martin Simons (1870-1950) edited the International Socialist Review. Eventually idealogical issues divided Simons and publisher Charles Kerr, who forced him out of the editorship in 1908 [interestingly, the same year that Kerr published this printing].This is a Very Good copy of the "Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged, with Notes and References." Green cloth binding, with titling in black on the spine and front cover, which has a hand carrying a torch, blindstamped within a circle. Clean text; 120 pages, with a 32-page catalog in the rear. Margins rubbed, head of spine to a fray; three tiny chips to the spine.Page eleven bears the stamp of "Dr. Roque E. Garrigo Cienfuegos, Cuba [1876-1936].. Third Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

New York: Fairplay Publishers, 1950. George marion (1905-1955) had joined the Communist Party in the mid-1930s and was a correspondent during the Spanish Civil War. Blacklisted, he self-published his books under the name "Fairplay Publishers." First published in 1949. This is a Near Fine copy of the Second Edition [stated] from a year later. Gray cloth binding with titling in black on the spine and front cover. Clean text, very bright and clear; 192 pages. Distinguished by an introduction by Dashiell Hammett. Page ends a bit dusty; else a Fine copy. The dustjacket is complete and unclipped but it is darkened on the spine with some light edgewear. Several spalash-stains are on the rear cover and its flap. In an archival plastic protector.. Second Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Very Good (Minus). 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1904. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition Thus, a translation "from the Second German Edition by N.I. Stone, With an Appendix Containing Marx's Introduction to the Critique Recently Published among His Posthumous Papers." Maroon pebbled cloth binding, blindstamped on the front cover with a hand holding a burning torch. Clean text; 314 pages. The gilt lettering on the spine has faded, else Fine, Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Thus.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/No Jacket.

New York: Pegasus, 1969. This is a Fine copy of the First Edition. Bright yellow cloth binding with red lettering on the spine. Clean text; 415 pages, indexed. Maps as endpapers. The dustjacket is unclipped, also Fine; in an archival plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine.

New York City and Pasadena: Upton Sinclair, 1915. Sinclair (1868-1968) was a prolific author, winner of a Pulitzer Prize, and an unsuccessful Socialist politician. Rather a fascinating figure in American History; and his muckraking novel "The Jungle" resulted in now-accepted Federal regulation of the meat-packing industry. A rather comprehensive anthology: "Selected from Twenty-Five Languages Covering a Period of Five Thousand Years." Introduction by Jack London. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition Thus. A Note from Sinclair relates how he was able to purchase the plates from his original publisher so he could self-publish. Maroon cloth binding with gilt lettering, very clean and bright. Clean text; 891 pages, including various indexes; with five pages of adverts for Sinclair's book in the rear. The dustjacket, rarely seen, is Very Good, having minor edgewear, several small closed tears, and some chipping at the head of the spine. In an an archival plastic protector.… Read More

Boston & New York: Lee and Shepard, Publishers & Charles T. Dillingham, 1878. Here is an early work of the now-discredited "science" of eugenics. The author notes on the Title Page that "The sacredness of human life Increases with civilization," which is an idealistic way of stating the proposition of racial superiority. An uncommon to scarce work today. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. Green decorative cloth binding, ruled and blindstamped on the covers, gilt lettering on the spine. Clean text; 585 pages, indexed, with addenda; four pages of reviews in the rear.Showing some wear, with bumped corners and rubbing at the margins. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition.. Decorative Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket.

Boston: Little, Brown, & Company, 1923. Benito Mussolini first took power in 1922; here is an exposition of his brand of fascism by "a soldier of our cause" (from the Preface by Mussolini). This is a Very Good copy of the First American Edition, an uncommon title. Translated, edited, and with an Introduction by M.D. Petre. Green cloth binding. Clean text; 217 pages. Frontis portrait of S.E. Benito Mussolini. While this is a solid copy, there is mottling along the top edge of the front cover, two edges of the rear, and a bit of the spine.. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1903. Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach [1804-1872] was a major influence on German philosophy in the mid-19th century. Engels was an admirer, but today certainly is better known. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. A scarce title. Red cloth binding, decoratively stamped (as part of the "Standard Socialist Series"); titling in black on the spine and front cover. Clean text; 133 pages. Fl;oral endpapers. Translation and a critical introduction by Austin Lewis. Textblock is toned, due to cheap pulp paper, but remains perfectly clear. There are two faint stamping within: "From the Standard Publishing Company, Terre Haute, Indiana." Nicely penned contemporary signature on the front paste-down. Rubbed at the margins; smudge to bottom of front cover. In an archival plastic protector.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Unknown (Chicago?): Unknown (Ball Publishing?), 1911. here is one of those reform books that had currency in America from late in the 19th century through the 1920s. Ostensibly to correct injustice, they seem to be designed to titilate as well. The author is "Secretary of the Illinois Vigilance Association" and there are ten other "do-gooders" who have contributed chapters to the book. While no publisher is listed, the copyright is held by G.S. Ball and L.H. Walter, one of whom is probably the publisher. This is a Very Good (Minus) copy of the First Edition. Green cloth decorative binding ; heavily stamped lettering, and with a print of a damsel behind bars tipped onto the front cover. Lettering in black and gilt. Clean text; 482 pages; many illustrations of the awful circumstances of young women. Gilt has faded; mildly bumped and rubbed. A true period-piece of American social history. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition.. Decorative Cloth. Very… Read More

New York: The Socialist Literature Co., 1907. Franklin Wentworth (1866-1954) was a prominent Massachusetts socialist speaker. This is one of the more interesting socialist works that Quercus has seen: a Near Fine copy of the First Edition, in a binding meant to mimic traditional fine binding (the subject matter more often seen in phamplet form). Green-gray paper-covered boards, with a paper spine and tips representing traditional leather. There are even four raised bands! Gilt lettering on the front cover and the spine. Clean text; 157 pages of quality laid paper, many unopened. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. First Edition.. Half-Leather. Near Fine/No Jacket.

London: Trubner & Co., 1872. J. Arthur Partridge wrote a number of books on history and political science, which are held in all major research libraries. He has, however, a rather scant representation in the trade. First published in 1866; this is a Good copy of a Later Printing. A well-received book that is quite scarce in the Trade today. This is a "Project Book" for the right person, as it is an ex-libris copy that is disbound. Maroon cloth binding, ruled in black on the covers, with titling in gilt on the front cover and spine. Clean text; lxii, 591 pages, with an errata slip tipped onto the rear endpaper. Quercus believes that all the pieces are there, but please note the condition issues; Quercus must offer this as a Binding Copy, in need of repair or restopration (!).. Later Printing. Disbound. Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

New York: International General, 1975. Previously published in Chile, Argentina, Italy, and Portugal. Not common. This is a Near Fine copy of the First American Edition [stated "First Printing: May 1975"]. large format in wraps. Clean text; 112 pages; illustrations. Pages lightly toned; tiny chip to rear, foot of the spine. Else, a Fine copy.. First American Edition.. Soft Cover. Near Fine/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Girard, Kansas: Haldeman-Julius Company, 1920. Socialist and atheist E. Haldeman-Julius (1889-1951) published a series of softbound pamphlets on radical subjects that appeared under various names, starting in 1915. Eventually (1923) they were titled the "Little Blue Books." This is a Very Good (Minus) copy of one of the earlier iterations, called the "Ten-Cent Pocket Series No.211." Blue stapled paper covers. 65 pages. No date, but earlier than 1923; Quercus assigns an arbitrary date of 1920. This copy has been stamped "Property of Local Reading Socialist Party" on the front cover. There is a 1/2" piece torn off from the bottom of the cover and flood marks throughout the text. An historical artifact on American radical thought. Size: 32mo - over 4" - 5" tall. First Thus.. Soft Cover. Very Good Minus/No Jacket.

Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1981. This is a Fine copy of the First Edition. Brown paper-covered boards with a red cloth spine, black lettering. Clean text; 297 pages, indexed. This copy has been SIGNED and INSCRIBED by the subject, Joe Rapoport, on the half-title (dated 1986). Laid in are newspaper clippings about Joe Rapoport published at the time of his passing. The dustjacket is also Fine; unclipped, in an archival plastic protector. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine.

Glasgow and Sydney: John M'Gready, 1881. John Bright (1811-1889) was a Quaker, a famed orator, a Memeber of Parliament for some four decades. Although known as a radical, he nonetheless was an opponent of Irish Home Rule. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition (number 5 of the "Memorable Men of the Nineteenth Century") Blue cloth binding with gilt lettering and decorations on the spine. Clean text; 304 pages; all edges are gilt. There is no publication date, but a "Chronilogical Index" of Bright's life found in the rear stops at 1881.An interesting feature of this book is an actual photograph that has been tipped in on the page opposite the title. The spine is darkened (but lettering is still bright); rubbing around the margins. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket.

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1936. The fifth book written by the Marxist literary critic Granville Hicks (1901-1982) is a surprisingly even-handed biography of Reed (1887-1920), the famous reporter of the Russian Revolution. Hicks moved away from supporting the Communist Party in 1939. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. Gray cloth binding with gilt on maroon label and lettering. Clean text; 445 pages, with Notes, Appendix, Index. Lacking the dustjacket. Slight lean, mild rubbing, gilt lettering as bit faded. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket.

New York: M.W. Hazen Co., 1888. George McNeill (1837-1906) was one of the most prominent labor theorists and activists of the later part of the 19th Century; he fought for the 8-hour day and co-founded the AFL. Here he has 15 "Associate Editors" including Henry George. A scarce title; other than LoC, most institutions hold the work electronically. This is a Very Good (minus) copy of a Later Printing of the First Edition (per LoC, the first edition was a year earlier). A large, heavy octavo (shipped at cost) Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Later Printing.. Decorative Cloth. Very Good Minus/No Jacket.