Paine, Thomas | A 1776 Philadelphia text of "Common Sense"

Paine, Thomas

Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the Following Interesting Subjects. I. Of the Origin and Design of Government in general, with concise Remarks on the English Constitution. II. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession. III. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs. IV. Of the Present Ability of America, with some Miscellaneous Reflections. A New Edition, with Several Additions in the Body of the Work. To which is Added an Appendix; together with an Address to the People called Quakers. N.B. The New Addition here given Increases the Work Upwards of one Third. Philadelphia: Printed. And Sold by W. and T. Bradford, [1776]

8vo (182 x 123 mm). Lacking half-title and final six leaves, title-page detached and repaired at upper fore-edge corners, some other leaves loose, marginal fraying and chipping, browned and stained. Brown morocco folding-case gilt.

Third edition of Paine's iconic anti-monarchical pamphlet, printed the month after the first edition of January 1776. This is the first edition of the expanded text, and while much of the appendix and all of the "Address to the Quakers" is lacking from this fragmentary copy, the text of Common Sense is complete.

Paine arrived in America on 30 November 1774; in the early part of 1775 he became editor of the monthly Pennsylvania Magazine—and increasingly interested in the cause of American independence. At the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin (whom he had met in London and who had supplied him with letters of introduction) and Benjamin Rush, Paine agreed to write an essay in support of the idea. Originally planned as a series of letters to be submitted to newspapers, Paine instead decided on publishing it as a pamphlet. Robert Bell first issued the text on 10 January 1776 as an anonymous two-shilling pamphlet in an edition of 1,000 copies. Common Sense urged an immediate declaration of independence and led to Paine's clandestine employment as official propagandist of the insurgent colonial government. The impact of the tract on the course of American independence can scarcely be exaggerated. Paine's stirring renunciation of the sovereignty of George III, whom he termed a hardened, sullen-faced Pharaoh, found a remarkable reception among his new countrymen.

Paine fell out with Bell almost immediately over the printer's refusal both to share the profits from Common Sense and to wait to publish a second edition until Paine could make additions to the text. Infuriated, Paine took his original text, now accompanied by a substantial appendix—which incorporated his response to the Quaker pacifist tract, The Ancient Testimony and Principles of the People called Quakers, renewed, with respect to the King and Government; and Touching the Commotions now Prevailing in these and other Parts of America (Philadelphia, 1776)—to the Bradfords.

Eager to capitalize on the popularity of the work, the Bradfords contracted with two other Philadelphia printers, Benjamin Towne and the partnership of Styner & Cist, to each print 1,500 copies of this first truly "new" edition of Common Sense. There is no priority given between the Styner & Cist and Towne issues; and because the lacunae of this copy include the leaves that distinguish among the issues, it is impossible to determine conclusively which printing this copy belongs to.

REFERENCES:

Adams, American Independence 222f; Evans 14959; Hildeburn 3434; Howes P17; cf. Gimbel CS-10, CS-12, CS-13