A Very Rare, Perhaps Unique Work Authored and Signed by James Madison, A Private Printing from His Time as Secretary of State

From the personal collection of Washington attorney and 7-term Clerk of the US House, Matthew St. Claire Clark

 

Among the bound collection of 11 pamphlets of Clark are some private printings so rare that no examples appear in public sale records for approximately a century

 

We found no other work written by Madison and also signed by him having reached the public market

 

During the Jefferson Administration, Matthew St. Clair Clarke lived in Pennsylvania and traveled back and forth to Washington DC; he was well connected with the Madison Administration. During the Monroe Administration, he ascended to Clerk of the House, where he served for 7 terms. He would later co-author “American Archives” with Peter Force.

Clarke collected imprints and bound them together at some point during the Madison Administration. They relate to foreign policy, the Napoleonic conflicts in Europe, and war with France and England. They range in date from 1798 to 1812. Three have signatures, including the lengthy pamphlet from Madison, which appears first.

A collection of 11 rare pamphlets, mostly from the Jefferson Administration period, belonging Matthew St. Clair Clarke, Washington-based Attorney who served as one of the early clerks of the US Congress, bearing his signature on the cover and manuscript index of included contents. Various octavo sizes all bound together in contemporary morocco boards by Clarke. Binding worn but intact.

1 – Signed by Madison himself. An Examination of the British Doctrine, which subjects to Capture a Neutral Trade, not open in Time of Peace, no publisher noted, no date but January 1806. This is not the London-printed more common 2nd edition but the 1st edition, privately printed by Madison and very rare. Last public sale record: 1941, Parke Benet (now Sothebys). One of only a handful of Madison signed books to reach the market and the only of his own authorship we managed to find. Madison has signed the title page and a third hand has written “by” in front of his name.

2 – Hints to Both Parties; or Observations on the Proceedings in Parliament upon the Petitions against the Orders in Council, and on the Conduct of His Majesty’s Ministers in Granting Licences to Import the Staple Commodities of the Enemy. New York: Printed for E. Sargent. 1808. Relates to the restrictions which interfered with American trade, especially with France. Last public sale record: 1935, Goodspeed.

3 – Robert Smith’s Adderss to the People of the United States, 1811. Baltimore: no publisher listed, 1811. 1st edition. Smith was Jefferson’s Secretary of the Navy, then Madison’s Secretary of State, a stepping-stone to the Presidency. But Smith accused Madison of excessive hostility to England; then Madison removed him. “This address contains the diplomatic correspondence by Smith which was the subject of disagreement.” Sabin. “Never again did this genial gentleman sun himself in the rays of Executive power, or recover the smallest share of influence… In the month of June 1811, he published an Address to the People, charging President Madison with offences…So gravely did it compromise Madison that he caused Joel Barlow to write a semi-official reply…” Howes S656. Jenkins Full Howes 2342. Sabin 83818.

4 – An Address of Members of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States to Their Constituents, on the Subject of War with Great Britain. 1st editon. Alexandria: Snowden, 1812. Howes A77.

5 – Message from the President of the United States Communicating Further Information in Relation to the Affairs of the United States with Great Britain. 1st edition, 1 of 5,000 copies originally printed for Members of Congress and others in the capitol. Washington: A & G Way Printers, 1809. This edition is not in Tomkins bibliography of Jefferson.

6 – The Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the United States, with Respect to the Petitions Praying for a Repeal of the Alien and Sedition Laws: including the Report of a Select Committee, and the Speeches of Messrs. Gallatin and Nicholas, thereon. Philadelphia: Joseph Gales, 1799. A gift inscription to Thomas Patterson. Last listed sale: 1938 Rosenbach.

7 – Mr. Harper’s Speech, on the Foreign Intercourse Bill in Reply to Mr. Nicholas and Mr. Gallatin. No place: no publisher, 1798. David Hunter’s signed copy. Last reported sale of this private printing: 1908, Goodspeed.

8 – Speech of the Hon. Julien Poydras to the Orleans Register Delivered March 1 1809. No location or publisher. There are no reported sales of what appears to be a private printing.

9 – Speech of the Hon. William B. Giles in the Senate of the United States on the Bill for raising an additional military force. December 17 1811. No further publication information nor record of any public sales. Only 3 copies in Worldcat, including the Library of Congress Jefferson Collection, Harvard, and the Boston Athanaeum.

10 – Speech of Mr. Bayard on the bill received from the Senate, entitled “An Act to repeal certain acts respecting of the organization of the courts of the U. States”. Delivered February 19, 1802. No publication information.

11 – WAR OR NO WAR? Introduced with a View of the Causes of Our National Decline and Present Embarrassments. By Lycurgus. Printed for E. Sargeant. New York: Bruce, 1807.
Last public sale record: 1912. Anderson.