Monroe, James | First printing of the Monroe Doctrine in book form

Monroe, James
Message from the President of the United States, to Both Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the First Session of the Eighteenth Congress. December 2, 1823. Printed by the order of the Senate of the United States. Washington: Printed by Gales & Seaton, 1823

8vo (231 x 142 mm). Title-pages, numerous folding charts and tables; foxing, holograph annotations to title and front free endpaper, a few pages creased at corners. In contemporary half calf over marbled boards, spine ruled blind in 6 compartments, 2nd compartment with leather label lettered in gilt; worn, rubbed at extremities with loss to spine and corners, and board edges with some exposure.

First printing of the Monroe Doctrine in book form. The fear that the continental powers were planning to reconquer the Latin American republics that had declared their independence from Spain—coupled with irritation over Russia's intention to quarantine the Northwest coast of America from all but Russian vessels—led President Monroe to articulate a policy (largely drafted by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams) that would obligate the European powers to respect the Western Hemisphere as the United States' sphere of influence and prevent their intervention in the New World. His eponymous doctrine boldly declared that "the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for further colonization by any European powers," and that any subsequent European meddling in the Americas could not be viewed "in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States."

Prior to this edition, the Monroe Doctrine had only been printed in newspapers; the volume also includes numerous reports from the same session of Congress.

PROVENANCE
S. Lathrop (signature to pastedown)

Condition Report:
Condition as described in catalogue entry.