Common Sense

London: Printed for H.D. Symonds, 1793. Full description:

PAINE, Thomas. Common Sense. Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the Following interesting Subjects: I. Of the Origin and Design of Government in general, with concise Remarks on the English Constitution. II. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession. III. Thoughts on the present State of American Affairs. IV Of the present Ability of America, with some miscellaneous Reflections. A NEW edition, with several Additions in the body of the Work. To which is added, an appendix; together with an Address to the People called Quakers. N.B. New Edition here given increases the Work upwards of One-Third. London: Printed for H.D. Symonds, 1793.

An early "New" edition with additions of upwards of one-third. A [Six-pence edition]. Twelvemo in sixes. (7 1/8 x 4 inches; 180 x 100 mm). 36 pp. Without frontispiece portrait, (Portrait not mentioned in Gimbel).

Bound in new white paper boards. Spine printed in black ink. Newer endpapers. Some minor foxing, mainly to margins. Overall a very good copy.

"Even after Lexington and Bunker Hill, it is probable that a majority of the American people hoped for a reconciliation under which they would have freedom, but as citizens of a British Empire. The radical party had portrayed King George as a benevolent monarch, surrounded by wicked ministers, and few dared even mention independence. Paine's Common Sense, published anonymously in January, 1776, as the first vigorous attack on King George, a "hardened, sullen-tempered Pharaoh," Paine called him, and the first public appeal for an American Republic. It is not too much to say that the Declaration of Independence, was due more to Paine's Common Sense than to any other single piece of writing" (Grolier).

Gimbel CS-78. ESTC T5816

HBS 69088.

$1,000.