The Life and Times of Alexander Hamilton – Schmucker – 1856 | 1st Ed., US Founding Father Biography

This 1856 first edition of The Life and Times of Alexander Hamilton by Samuel M. Schmucker was one of the earliest biographical accounts published that was intended for the general reader interested in America’s founding fathers. Schmucker describes Hamilton’s life from his early years as an orphan in the West Indies through to his Revolutionary War contributions, his authorship within The Federalist Papers, his tenure as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and ultimately his death in the infamous duel with Aaron Burr.

Bibliographic Details:

• Title: The Life and Times of Alexander Hamilton
• Author: Samuel M. Schmucker, LL.D.
• Illustrator: J.D. Gross (Engraver)
• Publisher: Philadelphia: John E. Potter and Company, Nos. 614 and 617 Sansom Street
• Edition: First Edition, 1856.
• Binding: Hardcover; original green blind-stamped cloth
• Size: ~ 7.5in × 5.25in (19cm × 13cm)
• Collation: xiv, 15-408, [2], 6 pp
• Illustrations: Engraved frontispiece portrait
• Contents Include:
  • Preface outlining Schmucker’s approach to writing this account
  • Full narrative of Hamilton’s life, public service, writings, and duel
  • Reflections on Hamilton’s impact on the American government and finance

• Provenance: Ex-libris label – Library of Col. J. G. Ford
• References: Sabin 77600

Condition:

Very Good. Bound in original green publisher’s cloth, blind-stamped with a decorative “John E. Potter, Philadelphia” banner on the upper front board. Moderate edgewear appears along spine ends and corners. Internally, text block is secure with original endpapers intact. Mild scattered foxing, more pronounced at preliminaries and title page.

Why Collect This?

• One of the first accessible popular Hamilton biography printed for the general American reader
• Surviving in original cloth binding with authentic publisher’s blind-stamp
• For collections of Hamiltoniana or early American history
• Scarce first edition in complete and unrestored condition

Item Number (SKU): #41730