Eben-Ezer bei Buffalo im St. N.Y. [Die Gemeinde der wahren Inspiration], 1854. First edition. 12mo, original black sheep spine and tips, marbled boards, 244 pages. At the head of the title, "J. J. J." An uncommon relic of the communal Inspirationalist society that evolved into the Amana Society in Iowa;..... More

[Canton, O. Peter Kaufmann and E. Luft, 1868]. First edition. Broadside, 12.13 x 9.88 inches, printed in two columns in a decorative border. A rare carrier’s address from editor and publisher Kaufmann (1800-1869), was known for his involvement at Harmony and then as a founding member of Teutonia; he later..... More

Benton Harbor, Mich. Published by the Israelite House of David as Re-organized by Mary Purnell, [after 1970]. First City of David edition. Original printed green wrappers, 5.88 x 4.25 inches, 11, [1] pages. A separately-published sermon from Jezreel, the Sixth Messenger—generally taken as the source for Benjamin Purnell’s authority as..... More

New York: Rinehart & Company, Inc., (1955). First edition. 8vo, original black cloth spine, cream boards, white lettering, [viii], 305 pages. Original printed dust jacket. A presentation copy, inscribed in ink on the front free endpaper, "Saul -- who if he agrees will I trust help spread my dream since..... More

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1859. First edition. 12mo, original brown cloth, gilt lettering, 189 pages. Prepared by Evans, Calvin Green, and Giles Avery, a good overview of the history and beliefs of the Shakers up to this period. A minor variant on the binding title noted in Richmond..... More

Chicago: The Throne Publishing Company, 1890. First edition. 8vo, original brick-red cloth, gilt lettering, 429 pages. What appears to be a round-about argument in favor of Christian Socialism via a return to first principles and the judicious application of contemporary thought. Gray, writing from Bloomington, Illinois, generally attacks the organized..... More

London: S. Bagster and Sons; Bath: Isaac Pitman, 1845. First edition. 8vo, contemporary (original?) rose linen spine, blue green boards, [4], v, [3], 194 pages. Two folding leaves with tables, included in the pagination. These sheets with stab-holes and an added two preliminary leaves, suggesting the gathered sheets of the..... More

(Minneapolis): Little Free Press, (1982). First edition. 16mo, original printed yellow wrappers, [1], 31 pages, dated 9/6/82 in the colophon. One of the utopian pamphlets published by the advocate of the "Priceless Society" system, the Minnesota real estate speculator turned libertarian drop-out Ernest Mann, whose long-running Little Free Press was..... More

[N. p., ca. 1934-1940?]. Real photo postcard in sepia, approx. 3.38 x 5.38 inches, unused. A fine and appropriate image from the first of Eleanor Roosevelt's planned communities, intended for displaced West Virginia miners. The project eventually disbanded in 1947. More

Oneida Reserve, N.Y. (Leonard and Company, Printers), March 6, 1851. 8vo, unbound, eight leaves, [33]-48 pages. The weekly newspaper of the perfectionist utopian Oneida Community and its leader John Humphrey Noyes, edited by Noyes' sister Harriet. This issue seems particularly preoccupied with the humility and criticism which Noyes advocated for..... More

[Portland, Me.]: (The Yellow Kid Press), [1972]. First edition, one of 100 copies. 16mo, original printed green wrappers, 4 pages. With original green envelope. From an eventual Shaker fellow traveler and the proprietor of the Yellow Kid Press, on arriving at Sabbathday Lake Shaker community on May 30, 1972 and..... More

Albany: Printed by C. Van Benthuysen, 1848. Second edition. 8vo, original sheep, black leather spine label, gilt rules and lettering, vii, [1], 384 pages. An account meant to explain the views and practices of the Shakers to the world at large, with a section omitted from the 1823 first edition..... More

[Watervliet, N.Y. n. p., ca. 1850]. Single leaf of white stock, printed recto only, approx. 1 x 1.63 inches. Decorative type border. An attractive medicinal herb label produced for the Watervliet (N.Y.) Shaker communal society. More