The New States’ Rights by Woodrow Wilson (First Edition Pamphlet, Governor of New Jersey), 1911 🇺🇸📜🏛️

$295.00

This is a rare First Edition political pamphlet containing the address The New States’ Rights, delivered by Woodrow Wilson on May 26, 1911.

The item is a primary source document capturing Wilson's evolving political philosophy at the pivotal moment before he won the presidency.

Its value is secured by the bibliographical scarcity of this ephemeral political address and its function as a tangible record of the Progressive Era debate over federal versus state power.


2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨ The pamphlet contains a transcript of the address given by Hon. Woodrow Wilson, Governor of New Jersey, to the Commercial Club of Lincoln, Nebraska. The core thesis addresses the surprising "revival in very recent years... of the energy and activity of our State governments".

Wilson argues that states are showing "extraordinary activity in the field of thoughtful and systematic reform". He links this resurgence to the nature of "modern business," stating that it is upon a "great and public scale" and requires the "statesmanship of economic development". The unique print code (25M-1-17-12) suggests the pamphlet was distributed as a campaign document.


3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️ Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) was the 28th President of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. Prior to his political career, Wilson was an accomplished academic, serving as a professor and president of Princeton University.

As president, Wilson implemented numerous Progressive Reforms, including the establishment of the Federal Reserve System and the Clayton Antitrust Act. His later, most famous work involved his leadership during World War I and his articulation of the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations. This pamphlet captures his intellectual prowess and his ability to articulate complex ideas before his transition to the national stage.


4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 This political address was given in May 1911, at the peak of the American Progressive Era (1890s–1920s), a period dedicated to social activism and political reform aimed at solving problems caused by industrialization.

The pamphlet directly engages with the central political conflict of the time: how to regulate massive corporations without allowing the Federal government to unduly usurp states' rights. Wilson's speech suggests that the states themselves are capable of and engaged in systematic reform, providing a critical insight into his political flexibility as he campaigned for national office. The document is a crucial time capsule of the intellectual ferment that characterized the American political scene on the eve of World War I.


5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ This pamphlet is an essential document for a curator of Presidential Political History, Progressive Era Thought, and American Constitutional Debates.

It is ideally suited for a collector who specializes in Woodrow Wilson's political philosophy and the ephemera of early 20th-century presidential campaigns. The item possesses a clear political pedigree and serves as a tangible asset for researchers studying the evolution of American political thought.


6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This is a First Edition political pamphlet published in 1911, making it 114 years old. Due to its nature as a campaign or promotional piece, these items were printed in limited quantities and were easily discarded, ensuring high scarcity.

Its Bibliographical Scarcity is high due to its specific, ephemeral political subject matter. The value is secured by its Historical Context Premium as a direct address by a future U.S. President defining his platform on a core issue of the era.


7. Condition 🔎📚✨ The physical condition has been assessed directly from the provided high-resolution photography. The object is deemed to be in Good Antique Condition, with heavy paper toning consistent with its age.

  • Format: The item is a softcover pamphlet with tan paper covers.

  • Interior Pages: The text is complete and legible throughout.

  • Toning: The paper shows heavy, expected age-related toning across the covers and pages.

  • Binding: The binding is structurally sound.

  • Printing Code: The printing code (25M-1-17-12) and edition number [No. 7] are visible on the cover.


8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • Commercial Club Setting: Wilson delivered this influential address before the Commercial Club of Lincoln, Nebraska, highlighting the importance of the business community in the Progressive reform movement.

  • The Business of Statesmanship: Wilson states that "Modern business men are engaged in nothing less than the statesmanship of economic development".

  • Governor's Role: The pamphlet is titled with his role as "Governor Of New Jersey," the political position from which he launched his presidential bid.

  • Printing Detail: The printing code 25M likely signifies a print run of 25,000 copies, a large volume for a political pamphlet of the time, underscoring its national promotional use.


9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Object Type: Political Pamphlet / Address Transcript

  • Title: The New States’ Rights

  • Author/Maker: Hon. Woodrow Wilson, Governor Of New Jersey

  • Year/Period: 1911 (Progressive Era)

  • Publisher/Foundry: Unattributed (Printed by Wilson's Campaign)

  • Place of Origin: USA

  • Format/Binding: First Edition Softcover Pamphlet

  • Rarity: Specialized / High Scarcity

  • Verbatim Transcription (Title Page): THE NEW STATES’ RIGHTS / ADDRESS OF / HON. WOODROW WILSON / GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY / Before the Commercial Club Of Lincoln, Neb. / MAY 26, 1911

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