[NULLIFICATION CRISIS] The Crisis. An Appeal to the Good Sense of the Nation, Against the Spirit of Resistance and Dissolution of the Union

Philadelphia: William F. Geddes, 1832. First Edition (?). Sewn binding. Very good +. Octavo, 28pp., plus 4pp. "Epitaph" at rear. A rare untrimmed copy in the original fragile sewn wrappers. Wrappers chipped, with some scrunching on the rear wrap, but a sound, if fragile copy. Overall very good or better. Small stamp (appears to be contemporary) on the front wrap, next to a contemporary inked name. Contents clean and bright. A very scarce probable first edition of this impassioned plea by the aging Matthew Carey (though the work is not credited, he signed the Preface) against allowing South Carolina to nullify existing federal tariffs within its state borders. This crisis, which was resolved through negotiation, nevertheless acted as a kind of dress rehearsal for the war over slavery's expansion into new states and territories; a tense back-and-forth which of course resulted in the American Civil War. At rear is a tongue-in-cheek "epitaph" for the Constitution of the United States, clearly written by Carey, who laments all of the horrendous attacks on the document by the supporters of nullification (including a brief attack on slavery). The front wrap bears a printed date of July 11, 1832, which, best we can tell, is the first edition. AAS and Yale describe their copies dated July 26th as the second edition, and we can find no copies dated earlier than July 11th in OCLC. Sabin (10861) notes only the 3rd edition, while the Checklist of American Imprints notes the 2nd through 5th editions, unhelpfully omitting their publication dates. In any event, we can trace no copies of this presumed first edition at auction, nor any in commerce as of this listing. A rare complete copy of this important pamphlet on nullification.