Peak season notice: Shipping for this category may take 14–21 business days after cleared payment. Thanks for your patience.
[Benjamin Rush]. An Enquiry into the Effects of Public Punishment Upon Criminals, and Upon Society. Rea...
Description
[Benjamin Rush]. An Enquiry into the Effects of Public Punishment Upon Criminals, and Upon Society. Read in the Society for Promoting Political Enquiries, Convened at the House of His Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, in Philadelphia, March 9th, 1787. Philadelphia: Joseph James, 1787.8vo (in fours). 18 pages. Modern mustard yellow cloth.
FIRST EDITION. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE PRINTER on the title page: "To James Hamton from Jos. Jam[es]." Sabin notes this pamphlet has also been attributed to James Ramsay, though a similarly titled pamphlet, authored by Rush, was published in New York in 1816. RARE, we can trace no other copies at auction.
James Hamton (1764-1792) was a Quaker and educator, living in and around Philadelphia for his short life. Joseph James (1755-1830) was a printer working in Philadelphia, and, like Hamton, was also a Quaker. It appears that his father, Abel James, was a wealthy merchant, Quaker leader, member of the American Philosophical Society, and personal friend of Benjamin Franklin. It is likely through this connection that his son Joseph James came to print the present pamphlet.
Condition: Fore-margin apparently trimmed, affecting part of the inscription; top margin seemingly closely shaved as well. Pale staining to title page; a few pale spots throughout.
References: Evans 20689; Sabin 67712 (Ramsay); Sabin 74215 (Rush). Not in Howes.
Provenance: James Hamton (presentation inscription).
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid (minimum $49) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 45001-45351) - 10:00 AM Central Time, Monday, December 15, 2025.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms