Rare Copy of Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man"

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/19/2012

Thomas Paine. Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution. London: Printed for the booksellers, 1792. Octavo, 98 pages. [bound with:] Part the Second. Combining Principle and Practice. London: Printed for the booksellers, 1792. Octavo 119 pages. [bound with:] Letter Addressed to the Addressers on the Late Proclamation. London: Printed for the booksellers, 1792. Octavo, 55 pages. [bound with:] Constitution of the Republic of France, Completed on the 26th June, 1793 and Submitted to the People by the National Convention. New York, Printed by Thomas Greenleaf, 1793. Octavo 16 pages. All four volumes bound together in old brown calf skin binding. "Rights of Man" stamped on spine. Binding rubbed and worn. Paper toned; occasional short tears and creases. Good condition.Inside the front title page Paine dedicates his book to: "To GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States of America. SIR, I Present you a small Treatise in defence of those Principles of Freedom which your exemplary Virtue hath so eminently contributed to establish.-That the Rights of Man may become as universal as your Benevolence can…Your much obliged, and Obedient humble servant, THOMAS PAINE." The classic work of Paine's fiery yet measured response to Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution of France in which Paine passionately defended the French Revolution. "Paine's 'answer to Mr. Burke's attack' took the arguments to a higher level. With a force and clarity unequalled even by Burke, Paine laid down those principles of fundamental human rights which must stand, no matter what excesses are committed to obtain them" (Printing and the Mind of Man 241). Despite monarchist England's attempt to have the book suppressed, it was circulated widely. Paine was tried and convicted in absentia for seditious libel against the Crown, but as he had left England for France, he escaped hanging.

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$Rare Copy of Thomas Paine\'s "Rights of Man"$