The Port Folio. By Oliver Oldschool, Esq.

(Jefferson.) DENNIE (Joseph), James Thomson Callender, and others.

The Port Folio. By Oliver Oldschool, Esq.

[pseud. i.e. Joseph Dennie]. Vols. 1-3, and 5.

Description: 4 vols., lacking vol. IV (and all after vol. V), and No. 31 in 1801, and Nos. 8 and 12 in vol. V, general title-pages to vols I, II, and V, fairly consistent paper, but 2 numbers in vol. II on bluish paper, variable browning and foxing, ink splashes &, burn holes in a few leaves in vol. II, on the whole a good copy, pp. [i], 416; [i], 416; 425; [i], 408 (with gaps as noted above), 4to, contemporary half calf over marbled boards, gilt ruled compartments on spine, lettered in gilt direct, yellow edges, a little rubbed, a few abrasions, crack in upper joint of vol. i, but binding solid, engraved armorial bookplate of an earl of Dalhousie, presumably George Ramsay ninth earl of Dalhousie (1770–1838), governor-in-chief of British North America

Publication Details: Philadelphia: Printed and sold by Hugh Maxwell [imprints and colophons vary], January 1801 - December, 1805

Notes: Dennie's Port Folio was one of the leading literary and political magazines in the United States at the start of 19th century. Begun in 1801, the periodical was particularly critical of the administration of Thomas Jefferson, and Dennie was charged with seditious libel after publishing a particularly scathing attack on Jeffersonian democracy, ("A democracy is scarcely tolerable at any period of national history. Its omens are always sinister, and its powers are unpropitious..."), a charge of which he was acquitted. The attacks on Jefferson included a series of 6 satirical poems by James Thomso...moreDennie's Port Folio was one of the leading literary and political magazines in the United States at the start of 19th century. Begun in 1801, the periodical was particularly critical of the administration of Thomas Jefferson, and Dennie was charged with seditious libel after publishing a particularly scathing attack on Jeffersonian democracy, ("A democracy is scarcely tolerable at any period of national history. Its omens are always sinister, and its powers are unpropitious..."), a charge of which he was acquitted. The attacks on Jefferson included a series of 6 satirical poems by James Thomson Callender (a native Scot, whose 'work rivalled Thomas Paine's in its radicalism' (ODNB): he was dubbed 'Newgate Callender' by Cobbett), which focused on Jefferson's relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings (by whom he had several children). These are found spread over several numbers in the 1802 volume, July to DecemberThe Portfolio ran until 1827, but it was at its height in its early years - under Dennie, who died in 1812.Loosely inserted is a printed 'Prospectus of a new Weekly Paper, submitted to Men of Affluence, Men of librality, and Men of Letters, [Philadelphia: no printer], pp. [6], 2 [blank], super royal quarto, loose, browned and a little stained, sometime overstitched, a little frayed. The last, blank, leaf appears to part of the piece (a somewhat extravagant use of paper. The last printed page, to be filled in by subscribers, has just the words Names, and Abode, at the top. ESTC W33604 (state with the last word of the first column on p. [1] is 'with'), 5 copies all in the US, 3 of them in the American Antiquarian Society; BAL 4635. HIDE

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Price: £3,000

Subject: History

Published Date: 1805

Stock Number: 67881

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