Common Sense, The American Crisis, The Age of Reason
Franklin Center, Pennsylvania: The Franklin Library, 1979. Limited Edition. Hardcover. [10], 385, [3] pages. Footnotes. Illustrations. This is one of The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature, a limited edition collection is published under the auspices of The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. Thomas Paine (born Thomas Pain; February 9, 1737 [O.S. January 29, 1736] – June 8, 1809) was an English-born American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary He authored Common Sense (1776) and The American Crisis (1776–1783), two of the most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, and helped inspire the Patriots in 1776 to declare independence from Great Britain, theretofore an unpopular cause. His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era ideals of transnational human rights. Moncure Daniel Conway's crowning achievement was his biography of fellow transatlantic radical Thomas Paine (1892). In that year Dickinson College awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Common Sense was a 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–1776 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Writing in clear and persuasive prose, Paine collected various moral and political arguments to encourage people in the Colonies to fight for egalitarian government. It was published anonymously on January 10, 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution and became an immediate sensation. It was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at meeting places. It had the largest sale and circulation, proportionately, of any book published in American history. As of 2006, Common Sense remained the all-time best-selling American title and is still in print today. This outstanding book is bound in genuine leather and features gilded, sewn in pages and ribbon marker, simply superb quality, Franklin Library at its best. The Franklin Library was a division of The Franklin Mint that produced fine collector edition books over three decades ending in the year 2000. For this reason all Franklin Library editions are now considered "out of print" and are no longer available for sale from the Franklin Mint. The Franklin Library produced books in three different binding styles referred to as full genuine leather, imitation leather, and quarter bound genuine leather. The full leather bound editions were produced through out the Franklin Library's full life span and the other two styles (imitation and quarter bound) were only produced through the 1970's and 80's. Below are some of the characteristics found in all Franklin Library editions along with more detailed information about the different binding styles. All Editions: • High quality paper; • Pages that are sewn not glued into the binding; • Gold gilded page edges on all three sides; • Raised spine bands that give each book that distinctive antique look. The genuine full leather bound editions are the highest quality of the three. While most characteristics remained constant through out the different series and years of production the style of end papers varied from silk moiré to decorative paper. Some of the characteristics that remained constant: • Full genuine leather binding; • 22k. gold lettering and stampings on the spine and covers; and • Attached silk page marker. Condition: Very good.
Keywords: American Revolution, Colonies, Human Rights, Egalitarianism, Enlightenment, Independence, Political Treatise
[Book #85526]
Price: $100.00