Subject: Religious tolerance

Published in London in 1790 by C. Dilly, J. Johnson, & J. Debrett, this book presents a collection of testimonies advocating for religious liberty, focusing on the cases of Dissenters, Catholics, and Jews in England. Edited by Benjamin Vaughan, it includes an essay titled "Facts and Observations respecting the Situation of the Jews in England," as well as essays on the legal status of English Catholics and religious liberty laws in France and the United States. The book also features Benjamin Franklin's "A Parable against Persecution," a text written in the style of the King James Bible and promoting religious tolerance.

This 1796 first edition, first printing book compiles speeches delivered by President George Washington to Congress and addresses to him from various groups, including prominent exchanges with the Jewish communities of Philadelphia, New York, Charleston, and Richmond. Published "according to Act of Congress," it represents the first official U.S. government publication referencing American Jews. Printed in Boston by Manning and Loring for Solomon Cotton, it contains 282 pages with some foxing and minor imperfections but remains in overall superb condition with original full calf leather binding.

This book, published in Boston in July 1796 by Manning and Loring for Solomon Cotton, Jr., contains a collection of President George Washington's speeches to Congress and his responses to addresses from various groups. Notably, it includes correspondence between Washington and several Jewish congregations (Newport, Rhode Island; Philadelphia, New York, Charleston, and Richmond), marking it as the first official U.S. government publication relating to American Jews. Published "according to Act of Congress," the book also features Washington's responses to these addresses, showcasing his support for religious tolerance. The book is in excellent condition, bound in full calf leather (with a professionally replaced spine), and includes a book advertisement by the publisher on the last page.

This is the third edition of Moses Stuart's letter to William Ellery Channing on the subject of religious freedom, published by Perkins & Marvin in Boston in 1830. The letter engages with Channing's views on religious tolerance and likely presents Stuart's own perspectives on the matter, potentially within the context of 19th-century American religious discourse.

An apologetic letter written in English to Mr. Cahine on July 10, 1824. The anonymous Christian author expresses regret for an unspecified offense, hoping his actions aren't misinterpreted as anti-Jewish. The letter emphasizes the writer's claim of non-hostile sentiments toward Jews. The single-page letter features remnants of a wax seal.

This broadside announces a performance of the opera "The Jewess" ("La Juive") at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, England. The date of the performance is listed as Saturday evening, March 26th, but the year is uncertain; possibilities include 1842 or 1853. The broadside also notes that this is the 8th time the opera was performed in America and provides details about the actors and scenes. It's considered possibly the earliest extant American broadside for this opera. The opera, composed by Fromental Halévy, premiered in Paris in 1835 and was a popular work in the 19th century. The storyline explores the theme of religious tolerance.

This book excerpt consists of two leaves (printed on both sides) from a larger act, printed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1771. The act concerns the establishment of non-denominational oaths of office for British colonial governors and justices, eliminating the requirement for explicitly Christian wording. This reflects a shift towards religious tolerance in colonial administration. The excerpt is significant for its implications on the changing relationship between religious practice and legal office in the British colonies and its relationship to the increasing commercial and imperial power of Great Britain.

Issue of the Gentleman's Magazine published in London, England on June 1, 1753. This issue features commentary on the recently passed Jewish Naturalization Act of 1753, a bill significant to Jewish communities in the colonies. The article on the Act appeared on the front page of Benjamin Franklin's newspaper in November 1753. The issue also includes a colored plate depicting St. Philip's Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and colored plates of American birds and a rattlesnake.

First edition of *Israel Vindicated*, a book published in New York in 1820. Authored by George Houston, writing under the pseudonym 'An Israelite,' this work is a polemic responding to the founding of the American Society for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews. It argues against the injustice of Christian claims to superiority over Jews and highlights the discrepancies between the US Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom and the practices of some states. This first edition was later published in England, marking it as the first American 'Jewish' book to gain international recognition. The book features a signed inscription by the author.

This 1794 volume, printed by J. Harrisson for B. Gomez in New York, represents the first book published in the United States by a Jewish publisher. It contains two works: Joseph Priestley's five letters to the Jews and David Levi's two replies. The volume signifies a significant milestone in American Jewish publishing history, showcasing the engagement of Jewish intellectuals with contemporary theological debates. The book is a first American edition, comprising 131 pages and measuring 17cm. It is bound in original period leather.

Newspaper clipping from the *Connecticut Gazette*, July 2, 1790, featuring a letter from Levi Sheftel, President of the Savannah, Georgia Congregation, to President George Washington, and Washington's reply. The clipping is described as being in mint condition. The description notes that a similar item, from the *Gazette of the United States*, June 19, 1790, sold at auction for a significant price. The text further discusses the context of this letter within the broader correspondence between President Washington and various Jewish congregations in the United States following his inauguration, highlighting the unique circumstances of the Savannah congregation's independent correspondence and the later use of this correspondence in advocating for Jewish rights in the early 19th century. A 1797 publication containing some, but not all, of this correspondence is mentioned.

This is a 34-page folio-sized pamphlet published in London on April 6, 1832, by order of the House of Commons. It contains copies of laws passed by various colonial legislatures in the West Indies granting relief to Catholics and removing disabilities faced by Jews. The pamphlet is a government publication, offering a valuable insight into the legal and social changes related to religious tolerance in the British colonies during the early 19th century.