FREEDOM OF THE PRESSFREE SPEECH
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Paine Was a
DIRTY Man!
Cheetham, James. The life of Thomas Paine, author of Common sense, The crisis, Rights of man, &c. &c. &c. New York: Southwick & Pelsue, 1809. 8vo (22.2 cm, 8.75"). 347, [1] pp.
Click either image for an enlargement. Provenance: Pencilled note on endpaper, “From Ralph E. McCoy’s Library”; McCoy, emeritus Dean of Libraries at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, published widely on the First Amendment freedoms.
• Howes C336; Sabin 12379; Shaw & Shoemaker 17193. Later quarter plain brown paper over contemporary tan paper–covered sides; edges and corners rubbed. Front free endpaper (modern) with pencilled note of McCoy’s ownership; front fly-leaf with pencilled gift inscription dated 1849. Offsetting and foxing throughout. A very sound copy.
“Official Edition” — A
Human Rights MilestoneColombia. Constitution. 1853. Constitucion política de la Nueva Granada. Año de 1853. [Bogotá]: no publisher/printer, 1853. Small 8vo (20 cm, 7.9"). 12 pp.
freedom
of the press, and creation of separation of church and
state.
Click
the images for enlargements.
There were two editions in 1853, the other being 24 pages in length.
• Palau 59737. Original printed yellow wrappers, creased and a little dusty. Very good condition.
Gómez Farías as
SlandererDocumentos relativos al promovido por el Sr. D. Eustaquio Barron contra Benito Gómez Farías. Mexico : Impr. de José Mariano Fernandez de Lara, 1856. Small 8vo. 56 pp.
Presented here is Gómez Farías’ side of things, in a very uneditorialized manner.
At the top of the title-page: “Juicio de imprenta.”
• Sewn as issued, lacking front wrapper but rear one present. A good+ copy.
“Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, & Free Men” Gardiner, Oliver Cromwell. The great issue: or, The three presidential candidates; being a brief historical sketch of the Free Soil question in the United States, from the Congress of 1774 and '87 to the present time. New York: William C. Bryant; Boston: B. B. Mussey & Co., 1848. 8vo. 176 pp.
A great snapshot of a great political moment.
• Sabin 26626. Original printed wrappers, with much paper loss on spine and (only) very shallow chipping along cover edgess. Faint traces of a librarian's mark in colored pencil on front cover. Chip to lower right corner of one leaf. Occasional light spots of foxing. A good copy. (24789)
What You Saw Depended on
Where You Stood
Giddings, [Joshua R.]. [drop-title] Privilege of the representative -- Privilege of the people. Speech of Mr. Giddings, of Ohio, on the trial of Preston S. Brooks, for an assault on Senator Sumner. Before the House of Representatives, July 11, 1856. [Washington, D.C.: Buell & Blanchard, 1856]. 8vo. 8 pp. 
• Removed from a nonce volume; respined with archival tissue. (576)
The
MORE!
Things Change
. . . ?Index librorum prohibitorum. Index librorum prohibitorum S[anctissi]mi D. N. Benedicti XIV. pontificis maximi jvssv recognitus, atque editus. Romae: Ex typographia Rev. Camerae Apostolicae, 1758. 8vo (19 cm, 7.1"). *6a8b10A8B10C–S
The
engraved title-page incorporates an engraving of men burning books!
Click
either image for an enlargement. • Vellum over paste boards; spine with tan label, gilt-lettered and ruled. Ex-library: Rubber stamps, including on front pastedown and all edges of closed book, spine with call number label and inked-out area. Paper clean and crisp. All edges marbled red.
Banning the Reading of TWO WORKS inBasque Inquisition. Mexico. Broadside: [begins] Nos los inquisidores contra la heretica pravedad ... A todas, y qualesquier personas de qualesquier estado, grado, y condicion, preeminencia ... Sabed ... mandamos prohibir, o expurgar, respectivamente, como aqui se expresa, y son los siguientes: Prohibidos aun para los que tienen licencia. 1. La obra intitulada: Le monarque accompli. Mexico: 28 June 1792. Folio extra (59 x 43 cm; 33.75" x 17"). 1 p.
Among the publications banned in their entirety are two “papeles” in Basque: Conferencia spirituala çoint an ikhusten baita francianco Nationeax eliça guiçonen againean eguin duen Constitutione Civlia, and Erresumaco juramentuya populujaren adiskide batez, escualduner esplicatuya. 
These
constitute the first instance this cataloguer has personally seen of the Mexican Inquisition banning publications in Basque (DMS).
Handsomely printed in roman type, single-column format at top and bottom and double-column format in the middle. With the embossed paper and wax seal of the Inquisition present, in the lower left corner. Signed with paraphs by four Inquisitors: Drs. Juan de Mier y Villar, Antonio Bergosa y Jordan, Bernardo de Prado y Obejero, and José de Pereda y Chaves.
Rare: Not in the standard bibliographies and OCLC locates only the copy at the Bancroft.
• Not in Medina, Mexico; not in González de Cossío, Cien; not in González de Cossío, 510. Very good condition, very small piece of blank paper torn from lower margin. Old folds. (23379)
Free Speech for the
Senate Chamber? Lincoln, Levi. Speech of Mr. Lincoln, of Massachusetts. Delivered in the House of Representatives of the United States, Feb. 7, 1837, on the resolution to censure the Hon. John Q. Adams, for inquiring of the Speaker, whether a paper, purporting to
come from slaves, came within the resolution laying on the table all petitions relating to slavery. Washington: Gales & Seaton, printers, 1837. 8vo. 9, [1 (blank)] pp.
• Lincoln rises to support and defend his fellow Bay State legislator against charges that might lead to censure or removal. Lincoln says no slight was made or intended and that Adams was merely exercising his right to free speech in the chamber.
• Stitched, never bound. Small piece torn from upper outer area of title-page just touching two letters of the title. Five-digit number stamped on title-page. (934)
Independence NOW! (& Please Don’tJail for Saying
That)M., J.A. Proclama de un americano amante de su patria. [colophon: Mexico: Oficina de D.J.M. Benavente y Socios, 1821]. Small 4to (22 cm; 8.5"). 8 pp.
His concerns here are the use of jail to silence liberal pens, the failure of the Spanish government to give equal status to “americanos,” and the need for Independence to succeed, especially via the Army of the Three Guarantees.
The only copies in the U.S. that we’ve located are at the Sutro and Bancroft libraries.
• Not in Medina, Mexico. Sutro 254; Garritz 4779. Folded as issued, edges chipped; woming in lower margins, old stitching holes, some leaves loose. Light soiling. A decent copy; a survivor.
The Inquisition & Father Hidalgo's“Manifiesto” Mexico. Inquisition. Broadside, begins: “Sabed: que ha
llegado á nuestras manos un proclama del rebelde Cura de Dolores que se titula: 'Manifiesto, que el Señor Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla::::,, [sic] haze al Pueblo.'” Mexico: no publisher/printer, 26 January 1811. Folio (43.4 cm; 17.125"). [1] p.
Click the image for an enlargement. Printed in double-column format and with the woodcut seal of the Inquisition in the lower right corner of the lower edge.
Uncommon: Garritz located only the copy in the Biblioteca Nacional and OCLC locates only five U.S. institutions holding copies.
• Not in Medina, Mexico. Garritz 1137. Old folds; five small meandering wormholes touching or costing a very few letters, but not impeding reading sense. (24917)
Censoring
theMEXICAN
Clergy
Mexico (Viceroyalty). Laws, statutes, etc. 12 January 1814. Broadside. Begins: "Don Felix Maria Calleja del Rey...El Exmô. Sr. Ministro de la Guerra con fecha 14 de Junio último me comunica la Real orden siguiente...." [Mexico, 1814]. Double folio. [1] p.
This decree was printed in Mexico City and is dated in text 12 January 1814.
This copy printed on blue paper.
Uncommon: NUC locates only two copies (at the Bancroft and the John Carter Brown libraries).
• Garritz, Impresos novohispanos, 1917; not in Harper, Americana Iberica.
Arrest
— Imprisonment
N.
[drop-title] La verdad aunque amargue es muchas veces el objecto precioso de la
libertad de imprenta. [colophon: Méjico: Oficina de D. Alejandro Valdes,
1820]. Small 4to. 8 pp.
Uncommon.
• Medina, Mexico, 11717; Garritz 3871; Steele 59 & 75; Sutro 145. Folded as issued; uncut. Very good copy.
Early
U.S.
Printings — Both
Parts
Paine,
Thomas. The age of reason. Being an investigation of true
and of fabulous theology. Boston: Thomas Hall, 1794. 12mo. 199, [5] pp. [bound
with] The age of reason; being an investigation of true and of fabulous
theology. Part II. New-York: Re-printed by Mott & Lyon, for Fellows &
Adam and J. Reid, 1706. 12mo. 199, [5] pp. 
Click the interior images for enlargements. • Part I: Evans 27458; ESTC W31697. Part II: Evans 30941; ESTC W31705. Recent full calf, period style. Old library stamp on first title-page. A very nice set of both parts. (20627)
Banned! in Mexico(Pascal,
Blaise). Carta de un leonés a uno de los suscritores
a la reimpresion de las Cartas provinciales de Pascal. México: Impr. de
Luis Abadiano y Valdes, 1842. Small 4to. 16 pp.
• Sutro 756 ("19p." being a typographical error for collation given here); not in Steele, Independent Mexico: A Collection of Mexican Pamphlets in the Bodleian Library. Folded and never sewn or bound; as issued.
From
aSuccessful
& Insightful
Indian Civil ServantPrinsep, Henry Thoby. The India question in 1853. London: William H. Allen & Co., 1853. 8vo (19.6 cm, 7.75"). [2], 111, [1 (blank)] pp.
• Parliament reviewed the management of the East India Company
every 20 years beginning in 1773. At the time of the 1853 review the number
of directors of the East India company was reduced, one of those retained being
Henry Prinsep (1793–1878), an able and successful Indian civil servant
and member of the Council of India. He here gives his insights on a wide range
of issues, from education andthe press to
finance, the administration of justice, and how best to govern the country.
• NSTC 2P27024. On Prinsep, see: DNB. Removed from a nonce volume. Lightly age-toned. Traces of soiling and small inked numeral on title-page. A few instances of pencilled sidelining.
TheGlorious Revolution's Centennial Revolution Society (London). An abstract of the history and proceedings of the Revolution Society, in London. To which is annexed a copy of the Bill of Rights. [London]: Pr. by Order of the Committee, 1789. 8vo. 40, 7, [1 (blank)] pp., [1] f., pp. 41–78, [1 (blank)] f., pp. 79–87, 90–92, pp. 79–86, 93–96 (page numbers 88, 89 not used).
Click the interior images for enlargements. Uncommon: No U.S. copy of this issue located via OCLC and ESTC locates only the Harvard copy. There were other, less complete editions of 40 pp., 58 pp., and 78 pp.
• ESTC N15187. Recent full calf, period style; spine with raised bands accented in gilt, oxblood leather gilt-lettered title, publication date and place in gilt at base; covers framed and paneled in gilt rules with gilt-stamped corner fleurons. Shallow chip to top outer corners of final two leaves. One word on p. 32 is blotted out in ink by an early owner with the correction supplied above it. Penned signature (partly cropped) at top edge of p. 79. Pp. 79–92 duplicated, nothing missing. (23766)
Let's NOT Bring Backthe Inquisition S., Y. O. Anecdota importante relativa a la Inquisicion de España, y varias reflexiones sobre el mismo asunto. Mejico: Impr. de D.M. Ontiveros, 1820. Small 4to. 35, [1 (blank)] pp.
Uncommon: OCLC locates only the copies at the Bancroft and Chilean National libraries; although, clearly, there is or was one in the Sutro Library.
• Sutro 175. Removed from a nonce volume. A good clean copy. (21742)
Freedom of the Press in the Spanish EmpireSpain. Sovereigns, etc., 1808–33 (Ferdinand VII). Broadside, begins: “Don Francisco Xavier Venegas...`Exmô. Sr. = ...sabed: que en las Córtes generales y extraordinarias, congregadas en la Real Isla de Leon, se resolvió y decretó lo siguiente...Articulo I. Todos los cuerpos y personas particulares, de qualquiera condicion y estado que sean, tienen libertad de escribir, imprimir y publicar sus ideas politicas sin necesidad de licencia, revision ó aprobacion alguna anteriores a la publicacion....” Mexico, 5 October 1812. Folio extra (48 cm; 17.25"). [1] p.
• Garritz, Impresos novohispanos, 1612. Not in Medina, Mexico; not in Sutro. Folds from having been previously bound into a small folio volume. Left margin irregular from removal from that volume. Revenue stamps on the verso. Viceroy Venegas’s paraph (“rúbrica”) below his printed name. A very good copy.
Freedom
of the Press — Philadelphia, 1800United States. Senate. Committee of Privileges. Report of the Committee of Privileges, on the measures it will be proper to adopt, relative to a publication in the General Advertizer, or Aurora, of the 19th of February last. [Philadelphia: Pr. by John Ward Fenno?, 1800]. 8vo. 7, [1] pp. 
At the heart of the controversy was Duane’s support of Jefferson for president and his exposure of the notorious Ross election bill by which the Federalists sought to thwart Jefferson’s bid for that office.
• Evans 38856; ESTC W021879. Removed from a nonce volume. Clean and in nice condition.
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