(Election of 1840) [Robert MAYO] A Word in Season; or Review of the Political Life and Opinions of Martin Van Buren. Addressed to the Entire Democracy of the American People.” (Washington: W. M. Morrison, 1840) 46pp. (with untitled contents page at end) 227 x 143 mm. (9 x 5 5/8 in.) in titled wraps. “Dedicated to the Tippecanoe Clubs of the Union, by A Harrison Democrat” First Edition, lacks second full paragraph inserted on page 46 in the second edition, or the additional page present in the third.
A superb piece of negative campaign literature, attacking President Martin Van Buren in a mock “campaign biography” divided into three “periods” of his life. After covering his rise in New York State politics, his rise to power in the U.S. Senate and subsequent Presidency, Mayo concludes: “It must be obvious to the intelligent reader, that these few pages can only be offered, as a systematic outline, or frame-work, to be filled up by future details. But without these, the reader is now sufficiently initiated into solecism, which equally sustains the truth that Mr. Van Buren did every thing, and advocated every opinion—and the contrary of every thing and every opinion, that have been charged against him: Hence, his partisans dare deny the truth of those charges, when the fact is, that both allegations of his contradictory actions and opinions are true. He has been for and against every thing and every body, every opinion and every party, as it happened to suit the varying phases of his ERRATIC POLITICAL LIFE. But still it may be said, he has been constant in these, because they have subserved his PRE-EMINENT CONSTANCY IN THE PURSUIT OF THE SPOILS OF OFFICE AND THE CONCENTRATION OF POWER.”
Rare. (OCLC 11361356, 50457682) Worldcat identifies only five extant examples of this 1st edition in institutional holdings. Auction records reveal no examples of any edition appearing in the market in the past thirty years. Sabin only identifies a second edition (105456).
Formerly bound, light foxing to title page, minor toning at extreme margins, else very clean and in fine condition.
(EXA 4890) $1,200
