William Henry Burleigh, The Republican Pocket Pistol, 1st ed.

Description

This truly rare 1860 campaign pamphlet was to be issued monthly during the presidential campaign and paginated continuously. This one is the first of 4 monthly issues extant, and the first we’ve encountered on the market!

The Republican Pocket Pistol shared Republican Party points, with its emphasis on its opposition to slavery, and includes the party platform, an argument for keeping territories slave-free, quotations from founding fathers, and more.

The outside rear wrapper advertises D. W. Bartlett’s campaign biography of Abraham Lincoln. On the inside wrapper a songster, also by Burleigh, is hawked – “To be offered June 10th”. With Lincoln just nominated it can be seen how quickly the Republican presses put out campaign biographies, songsters, and political pamphlets.

Very Good; small losses to spine; upper corner of front cover clipped; old stamp; faint pensiling on front cover; light edge wear.

William Henry Burleigh. THE REPUBLICAN POCKET PISTOL A COLLECTION OF FACTS, OPINIONS AND ARGUMENTS FOR FREEDOM. NO. 1, JUNE, 1860. NY: H. Dayton, 1860. 1st ed., 36p; 12mo, wraps. (Howes-B-991.)