Books

Chez F. Buisson: Paris, 1791. First French edition of Thomas Paine's classic statement of faith in democracy and egalitarianism. Octavo, bound in contemporary one quarter calf over marbled boards. In very good condition. From the library of Virginia bibliophile and historian Christopher Clark Geest with his bookplate to the pastedown. Rare and desirable. One of the most remarkable political writers of the modern world Thomas Paine wrote both parts of Rights of Man with the United States in mind Celebrating America and the extension of the struggle for liberty, equality and democracy to France Rights of Man became a phenomenal success in America" (Kaye, 4, 97-9). Paine finished the first part of Rights of Man on his 54th birthday, January 29, 1791, and the following day handed the manuscript to Johnson, a London publisher "who set about printing it in time for the opening of Parliament and Washington s birthday on February 22." Fearing governmental reprisals, Johnson halted its…

Thomas Paine's 'The Rights of Man' is a foundational work advocating for universal human rights and a robust critique of aristocracy and monarchy, published in response to the French Revolution.