Federalist Papers

Hello all. I am looking for a fine press copy of the Federalist Papers. I’ve been reading a copy of Alexander Hamilton’s biography by Ron Chernow and would like to learn more. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Great question.

Are there any fine press editions of The Federalist Papers?

I don't know any.

Is this a gaping hole in fine press?

>1 ironjaw:

I believe the Limited Editions Club (LEC) edition of the Federalist Papers - 2 volume set (1945) is the only game in town. Fortunately, it was a Bruce Rogers design and is one of the better LEC efforts. Can't go wrong with this choice.

>3 dlphcoracl: I agree. Unfortunately, the LEC did not publish the companion Anti-Federalist Papers, of which I am not aware of any fine press treatment.

The LEC is the only one, although I keep idly considering getting some prototypes made and going all Kickstarter on it

Now I don’t have much experience with Heritage Press but how does the HP edition compare with the LEC?

>2 grifgon: I agree, Griffon. It would be up your road, my dear friend and I would be the first in line.

>3 dlphcoracl: thanks. The copies I’ve seen so far are in terrible state.

>4 ultrarightist: interesting. I don’t know that
>5 gmacaree: go for it!

>1 ironjaw: If you're willing to consider a selection of articles instead of the complete collection, which might very well be ok for a curious non-American, you might want to check the 1995 Westvaco edition.

I know space considerations are important for you, so it might be a good option. The book contains a selection of 21 essays, and it's 264 pages. Westvacos are generally more compact than LECs (think pre-1990s Folios), so a single Westvaco will definitely take up considerably less space than a 2-volume LEC.

It will also cost you a fraction of the LEC. Not sure if you're familiar with Westvacos, as they're mostly found in the US. They're not anywhere in the LEC league production-wise, more like standard Folios. But they're good quality books that are sold for peanuts. West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, later shortened to Westvaco, a paper manufacturer, produced a book a year over a span of 50 years to give away as free Christmas presents for employees and friends of the company (clients, suppliers, etc.). So starting life as free give-aways, naturally most of them are dirt cheap on the secondary market.

>1 ironjaw: not fine press by any means, but Franklin Library published editions of this as part of the 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature and 100 Greatest Books of All Time series. These are both among their higher quality series, and Franklin Library seems like an appropriate publisher (and style) for this particular work. Both series had knowledgeable editorships, and the American Literature series was associated with The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration.

Both are also nice reading size.

Easton Press also has a decent reprint of the LEC Federalist Papers. The LEC is weirdly hard to find.

>9 MobyRichard:
Smaller wartime limitation, Bruce Rogers, work of patriotic value - not that weird! I’ve seen four or five for sale in two or three years.

>7 elladan0891: thanks, Elladan for the advise. I’ve been looking at Westvaco’s edition earlier today and it does seem like something I might pick up.

>8 abysswalker: thanks. The Franklin library editions look very appealing. Do you know what the production difference is between those series? Is one of them better than the other?

>6 ironjaw:
I only have the HP edition, so can’t compare. But it’s quite nice, and 1 volume. I assume the paper is much better in the LEC version.

>2 grifgon: I will throw my money at this endeavor

>1 ironjaw: >8 abysswalker:
Franklin also published The Federalist Papers in the 25th anniversary edition of the Great Books of the Western World series. Although I haven’t seen the other two, this one is probably the best because they have added several full-page b&w illustrations by political cartoonist Geoffrey Moss.

>14 jroger1: >1 ironjaw: the GBWW is also one of the top four Franklin Library series I trust for quality, so I don't think you can really go wrong with any of those three. I haven't seen the GBWW edition and don't have strong opinions between the other two. The 100 Greatest has color paintings of period events as illustrations. I think the American Literature series has several reproductions of documents, but I forget. ironjaw might appreciate the GBWW connection with Adler.

>15 abysswalker: "ironjaw might appreciate the GBWW connection with Adler."

Absolutely, I see my reputation proceeds me. I collect anything Adler :o)

From the LEC Monthly Letter: "The paper is thin, it is mage of rags, it has a homely surface; and it was prepared to Mr. Rogers' specifications by our wonderful friends at the wonderful mill of the wonderfully Worthy Paper Company...". One of the less spectacular LEC papers but fine enough considering the time of publication.

>17 BuzzBuzzard: Thanks, that does not fill me with much confidence about the war years' publications. I wonder how well it holds if I find a copy, but I do find the HP one interesting as well as the Franklin Library, so might pick up either one.

>18 ironjaw: This LEC is indeed a hard to find title. Perhaps it is in many institutional libraries due to its subject matter. Then too it is designed by Bruce Rogers that might have driven interest up. It is especially hard to find a set with decent spines. The "black morocco" (appears blue on my set) has not held up well.

>13 Objectr: This seems like a publication that would be right up Thornwillow’s alley.

>9 MobyRichard:
There’s an LEC Federalist on Abebooks at a non-absurd price now!