Seminal work on political theory, comprising 85 political essays, all but the last 8 of which were first published in newspapers in New York, in an effort to convince New York to approve the Federalist Constitution. Alexander Hamilton wrote 51 of the essays, James Madison 14, and John Jay 5; the authorship of 15 of the essays is in dispute between Hamilton and Madison. They were all published under the pseudonym "Publius." This edition, which was probably edited by William Coleman and was the last edition published during Hamilton's lifetime, was much revised from the 1788 first edition, and contains the additions of the "Pacificus" papers as well as the Constitution and its amendments. Howes describes the work as the "most famous and influential American political work." In this copy, an "H", "M" or "J" (or a ditto mark) has been written in ink in an early hand next to each of the listings in the table of contents, to indicate the authorship of that particular number. With bookplates of David Stetson on front pastedowns; ownership signatures of Wm. F. Allen, dated West Newton, Feb. 19, 1859 to front flyleaves. Howes H114; Sabin 23981.