Between the Covers

Periodical. Folio. A collection of 17 weekly issues of *The Port Folio*, containing a series of six satirical poems directed against Thomas Jefferson, specifically concerning his relations with Sally Hemings. Each weekly issue consists of eight pages, untrimmed as originally published, and professionally sewn into four sets of consecutive issues. [Set one]: July 3 – July 31, Nos. 26-30; [set two]: October 2 – October 30, Nos. 39-43; [set three]: November 6 – November 27, Nos. 44-47; [set four]: December 4 – December 18, Nos. 48-50. Overall browning and scattered foxing, the last two issues from December (nos. 49 and 50) are clipped at the bottom right corner (with minimal loss of text), good.

Founded by Joseph Dennie and Asbury Dickens in Philadelphia in January 1801, and edited by Dennie, *The Port Folio* quickly became the most important magazine devoted to literature and politics in the United States. During the period of its greatest influence, from 1802 to 1805, Dennie had organized a distinguished circle of mostly pro-Federalist contributors known for their "liveliness, urbanity, and wit." The Republicans and Jefferson in particular were frequently attacked in its pages. Thus when James T. Callender first published the allegation that Jefferson had fathered several children by his slave Sally Hemings (in the September 1st issue of the *Richmond Recorder*), Dennie was quick to exploit and expand upon the charge in this famous series of satirical poems, including one now known to have been written by John Quincy Adams. A detailed list of the six poems is available.

Item #364422