Hamilton, Alexander:

$27,500 · Offered by William Reese Company

OBSERVATIONS ON CERTAIN DOCUMENTS CONTAINED IN No. V & VI OF "THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE YEAR 1796," IN WHICH THE CHARGE OF SPECULATION AGAINST ALEXANDER HAMILTON, LATE SECRETARY OF THE ... The first edition of the infamous "Reynolds pamphlet," in which Hamilton describes his affair with Maria Reynolds and admits to paying off a blackmailer. In the pamphlet Hamilton takes the extraordinary step of admitting to adultery in order to clear his name of financial scandal in his office as Secretary of the Treasury. While successful in its purpose, it destroyed any hope of a political career on the national stage, and provided salacious ammunition for his enemies. A second edition, printed in 1800, was published by Hamilton's opponents to keep the scandal alive in the election of 1800, after the Hamilton family had purchased and destroyed most of the original edition.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.