Few people in the long, rich history of America are more respected than the original founding fathers. So, any collector with a work by the political activist and revolutionary, Thomas Paine, can truly claim to own a piece of American history. Indeed it can be argued that Paine wrote some of the most influential and successful revolutionary tracts ever to be published.
His pamphlet, Common Sense, published in early 1776 was written to garner support for the growing revolution. It became an immediate hit, with all 100,000 copies sold within a few months. So important is the publication it is said that without it Washington would not have succeeded in the revolution.
In 2013 an original version of the pamphlet, with an inscription by Henry Wisner, sold for $545,000. While this is a staggering figure it is a notable exception to the norm, which sees the pamphlet more frequently realising nearer $6,000 to $8,000.
The Rights of Man from 1791 is Paine's full length book outlining his support of the French Revolution and defending society's right to revolt. At auction, first editions can be obtained for around $3,000.
This book and his famous, Age of Reason, do not have the historical significance or direct impact that Common Sense had; sparking a revolution is a tough act to follow.However they both demonstrate Paine's clarity of thought and his ability to put forward difficult and controversial ideas (around deism and revolution) that make his publications so highly respected.
It goes without saying that Paine is an extremely appealing writer for collectors. For many his historical legacy is simply too attractive to ignore; and many are willing to pay a significant price to own a piece of American history.
Paine, Thomas. Common Sense. Philadelphia (1776). 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.; Norwich Edition
Paine, Thomas. Common Sense. Reprinted in London (1776). 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.; British Edition
Paine, Thomas. A Letter Addressed to the Abbe Raynal. Dublin (1782). on the Affairs of North-America in which the Mistakes in the Abbe's Account of the Revolution of America are Corrected and Cleared Up.; First English edition taken from the second American edition.
Paine, Thomas. A Letter Addressed to the Abbe Raynal. C. Dilly, London (1782). on the Affairs of North-America in which the Mistakes in the Abbe's Account of the Revolution of America are Corrected and Cleared Up.; First English edition taken from the second American edition.
Paine, Thomas. Droits de l'Homme. Buisson, Paris (1791). The Rights of Man; in response to the attack of M. Burke on the french revolution; translated by F.S.; notes and new preface by author
Paine, Thomas. Le Sens-Commun. Chez Gueffier, Paris (1791). Common Sense:Addressed to the inhabitants of America; translated into French
Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man. G. Burnet, R. Cross, P. Wogan, Dublin (1791). being an answer to Mr. Burke's attack on the French Revolution
Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man. J.S.Jordan, London. (1791). 2 works in one volume; later editions
Paine, Thomas. The Rights of Man. I. Thomas and E. T. Andrews, Boston (1791). Being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution
Paine, Thomas. A letter addressed to the Abbe Raynal. Ridgway, London (1792). on the affairs of North America; in which the mistakes in the Abbe's account of the revolution of America are corrected and cleared up.; later issues with date incorrect, p 10 numbered as 01, and page 35 (printed as 3) corrected
Paine, Thomas. Common Sense. H.D. Symonds, Pasternoster Row, London (1792). 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. A New Edition.
Paine, Thomas. Miscellaneous Articles. J. Ridgway, London (1792). Consisting of A Letter to the Marquis of Lansdowne; A Letter to the Authors of the Republican; A Letter to the Abbe Syeyes; Thoughts on the Peace, and the Probable Advantages Thereof; First Letter to Mr. Secretary Dundas; Letter to Lord Onslow; Second Letter to Mr. Dundas; and A Letter to the People of France.
Paine, Thomas. Public Good. Charles R and George Webster, Albany (1792). Being an Examination Into the Claim of Virginia to the vacant Western Territory, and of the Right of the United States to the same. To which is Added, Proposals for laying off a New State, To be applied as a Fund for carrying on the War, or redeeming the National Debt
Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man. H.D.Symonds,Paternoster-Row,, London (1792). being an answer to Mr. Burke's attack on the French Revolution; 2 parts (Part 2: Combining Principle and Practice)
Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man. P Byrne, Dublin (1792). being an answer to Mr. Burke's attack on the French Revolution; 2 parts (Part 2: Combining Principle and Practice)
Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man. J.S. Jordan, London (1792). Part 2 : Combing Principle and Practice
Paine, Thomas. Die Rechte des Menschen. Prost Sohn and Comp., Kopenhagen (1793). Right of Man, part 1 and 2; Mr. Burke's attack on the French Revolution
Paine, Thomas. Prospects on the War and Paper Currency. James Ridgway, London (1793).
Paine, Thomas. Recueil des Divers Ecrits. F. Buisson, Paris (1793). Series Other Writings of Thomas Paine, Secretary of the U.S. Congress, and member of the National Convention in 1792 on the Policy and Legislation
Paine, Thomas. An Examination of the Age of Reason. Kearsley, London (1794). or an Investigation of True and Fabulous theology,
Paine, Thomas. An Examination of the Age of Reason. G. Forman, New York (1794). or an Investigation of True and Fabulous theology,
Paine, Thomas. Dissertation on First-Principles of Government. Philadelphia. (1795). To which is added, the genuine speech, translated and delivered at the tribune of the French Convention, July 7, 1795
Paine, Thomas. Dissertation on First-Principles of Government. Isaac Eaton, London (1795).
Paine, Thomas. La Decadence et la Ruine Prochaine des Finances de L'Angleterre. Paris. (1796). The Decline and Fall of the English System of Finance; translated by Fr. Lanthenas
Paine , Thomas. The Decline and Fall of the English System of Finance. D. I. Eaton, London (1796). Later edition
Paine , Thomas. The Decline and Fall of the English System of Finance. T. Williams, London (1796).
Paine, Thomas. A Letter to George Washington. Daniel Isaac Eaton, London (1797). on the Subject of the Late Treaty concluded between Great Britain and the United States of America
Paine, Thomas. A Letter to George Washington. T. Williams, London (1797). on the Subject of the Late Treaty concluded between Great Britain and the United States of America
Paine, Thomas. Letter to the People of France. Argus-Office, New York (1798). And the French armies, on the event of the 18th fructidor – Sept 4 – and its consequences
Paine, Thomas. Dissertations. W.T. Sherwin, London (1817). on Government, the Affairs of the Bank, and Paper Money.; First English edition
Paine, Thomas. Letters to the Citizens of the United States of America. W.T. Sherwin, London (1817). after an absence of fifteen years; 8 letters, includes correspondence with Samuel Adams
Paine, Thomas. Memoirs of the Life of Thomas Paine. R. Carlile, London (1819). Compiled by William T. Sherwin; With Observations on his Writings, Critical and Explanatory. To which is Added an Appendix Containing Several of Mr. Paine's Unpublished Pieces.
Paine, Thomas. Political and Miscellaneous Works. R. Carlile, London (1819). 2 volumes
Paine, Thomas. The Political Writings. Solomon King, New York (1830). 2 volumes
Paine, Thomas. The Political Writings. George H. Evans (1835). 2 volumes
Paine, Thomas. Life and Writings. Vincent Parke and Co., New York (1908). Edited by Daniel Edwin Wheeler; biography by Thomas Clio Rickman; 10 volumes; limited 'independence' edition of 500 numbered copies; continental edition of 200 numbered copies signed by editor; other sub-editions were limited to 26, 75, and 1550 copies.
Paine, Thomas. The Life of Thomas Paine. Watts and Co., London (1909). Sketch by William Cobbett; Edited by Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner; 'With a History of his Literary, Political, and Religious Career in America, France, and England';
Paine, Thomas. The Life and Works. Thomas Paine National Historical Association, New York (1925). Introduction by Thomas A. Edison; 'Life of Thomas Paine by William M. Van der Weyde; Patriot's Edition; 10 volumes