Works of Spooner: Chronological and Thematic Lists
The Works of Lysander Spooner (1808-1887) in 5 volumes: The Second Edition (2018)
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Lysander Spooner (1808-1887) was a legal theorist, abolitionist, and radical individualist who started his own mail company in order to challenge the monopoly held by the US government. He wrote on the constitutionality of slavery, natural law, trial by jury, how binding was the authority of the US Constitution over individuals, intellectual property, paper currency, and banking.
We began putting Spooner's works online book by book and pamphlet by pamphlet over a period of several years beginning in 2010 - the "first edition" as it were. We have reorganized the material into a five volume collection in chronological order of date of publication - the "second edition" of 2018. The volumes are the following:
The Collected Works of Lysander Spooner (1834-1886), in 5 volumes (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2018). Set.
- The Collected Works of Lysander Spooner (1834-1886) in one HTML file and in E-Book formats - epub and Kindle.
- Vol. 1 (1834-1850) - in fascsimile PDF, HTML, and other formats .
- Vol. 2 (1853-1855) - in fascsimile PDF, HTML, and other formats.
- Vol. 3 (1858-1862) - in fascsimile PDF, HTML, and other formats.
- Vol. 4 (1863-1873) - in fascsimile PDF, HTML, and other formats.
- Vol. 5 (1875-1886) - in fascsimile PDF, HTML, and other formats.
The following tables of contents of the Collected Works provide a chronological list in order of date of publication (useful for seeing how his interests and ideas changed over time) and a thematic list by topic. The numbers refer to the work’s place in the chronological order.
More information about Spooner and his work:
- Spooner’s main bio page: /people/4664.
- School of Thought: Abolition of Slavery /collections/33.
- School of Thought: 19th Century Natural Rights Theorists /collections/38.
Chronological Table of Contents
The following is a list in order of date of publication of Spooner’s writings. The list also shows in what volume of this collection these texts can be found. Where there is a stand alone pamphlet we also link to that.
Volume I (1834-1850)[1.] The Deist’s Immortality, and an Essay on Man’s Accountability for his Belief (Boston, 1834). Vol. 1.
[2.] “To the Members of the Legislature of Massachusetts.” Worcester Republican. - Extra. August 26, 1835. Vol. 1.
[3.] The Deist’s Reply to the Alleged Supernatural Evidences of Christianity (Boston, 1836). Vol. 1.
[4.] Supreme Court of United States, January Term, 1839. Spooner vs. M’Connell, et al. (n.p., 1839). Vol. 1.
[5.] Constitutional Law, relative to Credit, Currency, and Banking (Worcester, Mass.: Jos. B. Ripley, 1843). Vol. 1.
[6.] The Unconstitutionality of the Laws of Congress, Prohibiting Private Mails (New York: Tribune Printing Establishment, 1844). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 1.
[7.] Poverty: its Illegal Causes and Legal Cure. Part First. (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1846). Vol. 1.
[8.] Who caused the Reduction of Postage? Ought he to be Paid? (Boston: Wright and Hasty’s Press, 1850). Vol. 1.
[9.] Illegality of the Trial of John W. Webster (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1850). </titles/2294#lf2294_label_267>.
[10.] A Defence for Fugitive Slaves, against the Acts of Congress of February 12, 1793, and September 18, 1850 (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1850). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 1.
Volume II (1852-1855)
[11.] An Essay on the Trial by Jury (Boston: John P. Jewett and Co., 1852). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 2.
[12.] The Law of Intellectual Property; or An Essay on the Right of Authors and Inventors to a Perpetual Property in their Ideas, Vol. 1 (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1855). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 2.
Volume III (1858-1862)
[13.] A Plan for the Abolition of Slavery, and To the Non-Slaveholders of the South (n.p., 1858). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[14.] Address of the Free Constitutionalists to the People of the United States (Boston: Thayer & Eldridge, 1860). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[15.] The Unconstitutionality of Slavery (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1860). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[16.] The Unconstitutionality of Slavery: Part Second (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1860). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[17.] A New System of Paper Currency. (Boston: Stacy and Richardson, 1861). Vol. 3.
[18.] Our Mechanical Industry, as Affected by our Present Currency System: An Argument for the Author’s “New System of Paper Currency” (Boston: Stacy & Richardson, 1862). Vol. 3.
Volume IV (1863-1873)
[19.] Articles of Association of the Spooner Copyright Company for Massachusetts (n.p., 1863). Vol. 4.
[20.] Considerations for Bankers, and Holders of United States Bonds (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1864). Vol. 4.
[21.] A Letter to Charles Sumner (n.p., 1864). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
[22.] No Treason, No. 1 (Boston: Published by the Author, 1867). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
[23.] No Treason. No II. The Constitution (Boston: Published by the Author, 1867). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
[24.] Senate-No. 824. Thomas Drew vs. John M. Clark (n.p., 1869). Vol. 4.
[25.] No Treason. No VI. The Constitution of No Authority (Boston: Published by the Author, 1870). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
[26.] A New Banking System: The Needful Capital for Rebuilding the Burnt District (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1873). Vol. 4.
Volume V (1875-1886)
[27.] Vices are Not Crimes: A Vindication of Moral Liberty in Dio Lewis, Prohibition a Failure, Or, The True Solution of the Temperance Question (Boston: J.R. Osgood and Company, 1875), pp. 107-46. Vol. 5.
[28.] Our Financiers: Their Ignorance, Usurpations, and Frauds. Reprinted from “The Radical Review” (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1877). Vol. 5.
[29.] The Law of Prices: A Demonstration of the Necessity for an Indefinite Increase of Money. Reprinted from “The Radical Review” (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1877). Vol. 5.
[30.] Gold and Silver as Standards of Value: The Flagrant Cheat in Regard to Them. Reprinted from “The Radical Review” (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1878). Vol. 5.
[31.] Universal Wealth shown to be Easily Attainable. Part First (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1879). Vol. 5.
[32.] No. 1. Revolution: The only Remedy for the Oppressed Classes of Ireland, England, and Other Parts of the British Empire. A Reply to “Dunraven” (Second Edition, n.p., 1880). Vol. 5.
[33.] Natural Law; or the Science of Justice: A Treatise on Natural Law, Natural Justice, Natural Rights, Natural Liberty, and Natural Society; showing that all Legislation whatsoever is an Absurdity, a Usurpation, and a Crime. Part First. (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1882). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 5.
[34.] A Letter to Thomas F. Bayard: Challenging his Right - and that of all the Other Socalled Senators and Representatives in Congress - to Exercise any Legislative Power whatever over the People of the United States (Boston: Published by the Author, 1882). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 5.
[35.] A Letter to Scientist and Inventors, on the Science of Justice, and their Right of Perpetual Property in their Discoveries and Inventions (Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co., 1884). Vol. 5.
[36.] A Letter to Grover Cleveland, on his False Inaugural Address, the Usurpations and Crimes of Lawmakers and Judges, and the Consequent Poverty, Ignorance, and Servitude of the People (Boston: Benj. R. Tucker, Publisher, 1886). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 5.
Thematic Table of Contents
Religion[1.] The Deist’s Immortality, and an Essay on Man’s Accountability for his Belief (Boston, 1834). Vol. 1.
[3.] The Deist’s Reply to the Alleged Supernatural Evidences of Christianity (Boston, 1836). Vol. 1.
Economics, Money, and Banking[7.] Poverty: its Illegal Causes and Legal Cure. Part First. (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1846). Vol. 1.
[17.] A New System of Paper Currency. (Boston: Stacy and Richardson, 1861). Vol. 3.
[18.] Our Mechanical Industry, as Affected by our Present Currency System: An Argument for the Author’s “New System of Paper Currency” (Boston: Stacy & Richardson, 1862). Vol. 3.
[20.] Considerations for Bankers, and Holders of United States Bonds (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1864). Vol. 4.
[26.] A New Banking System: The Needful Capital for Rebuilding the Burnt District (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1873). Vol. 4.
[28.] Our Financiers: Their Ignorance, Usurpations, and Frauds. Reprinted from “The Radical Review” (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1877). Vol. 5.
[29.] The Law of Prices: A Demonstration of the Necessity for an Indefinite Increase of Money. Reprinted from “The Radical Review” (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1877). Vol. 5.
[30.] Gold and Silver as Standards of Value: The Flagrant Cheat in Regard to Them. Reprinted from “The Radical Review” (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1878). Vol. 5.
[31.] Universal Wealth shown to be Easily Attainable. Part First (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1879). Vol. 5.
Slavery and Abolition[10.] A Defence for Fugitive Slaves, against the Acts of Congress of February 12, 1793, and September 18, 1850 (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1850). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 1.
[13.] A Plan for the Abolition of Slavery, and To the Non-Slaveholders of the South (n.p., 1858). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[14.] Address of the Free Constitutionalists to the People of the United States (Boston: Thayer & Eldridge, 1860). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[15.] The Unconstitutionality of Slavery (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1860). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[16.] The Unconstitutionality of Slavery: Part Second (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1860). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 3.
[21.] A Letter to Charles Sumner (n.p., 1864). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
Law & the Constitution[2.] “To the Members of the Legislature of Massachusetts.” Worcester Republican. - Extra. August 26, 1835. Vol. 1.
[4.] Supreme Court of United States, January Term, 1839. Spooner vs. M’Connell, et al. (n.p., 1839). Vol. 1.
[5.] Constitutional Law, relative to Credit, Currency, and Banking (Worcester, Mass.: Jos. B. Ripley, 1843). Vol. 1.
[6.] The Unconstitutionality of the Laws of Congress, Prohibiting Private Mails (New York: Tribune Printing Establishment, 1844). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 1.
[8.] Who caused the Reduction of Postage? Ought he to be Paid? (Boston: Wright and Hasty’s Press, 1850). Vol. 1.
[9.] Illegality of the Trial of John W. Webster (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1850). </titles/2294#lf2294_label_267>.
[11.] An Essay on the Trial by Jury (Boston: John P. Jewett and Co., 1852). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 2.
[12.] The Law of Intellectual Property; or An Essay on the Right of Authors and Inventors to a Perpetual Property in their Ideas, Vol. 1 (Boston: Bela Marsh, 1855). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 2.
[19.] Articles of Association of the Spooner Copyright Company for Massachusetts (n.p., 1863). Vol. 4.
[24.] Senate-No. 824. Thomas Drew vs. John M. Clark (n.p., 1869). Vol. 4.
[35.] A Letter to Scientist and Inventors, on the Science of Justice, and their Right of Perpetual Property in their Discoveries and Inventions (Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co., 1884). Vol. 5.
Political Thought[22.] No Treason, No. 1 (Boston: Published by the Author, 1867). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
[23.] No Treason. No II. The Constitution (Boston: Published by the Author, 1867). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
[25.] No Treason. No VI. The Constitution of No Authority (Boston: Published by the Author, 1870). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 4.
[27.] Vices are Not Crimes: A Vindication of Moral Liberty in Dio Lewis, Prohibition a Failure, Or, The True Solution of the Temperance Question (Boston: J.R. Osgood and Company, 1875), pp. 107-46. Vol. 5.
[32.] No. 1. Revolution: The only Remedy for the Oppressed Classes of Ireland, England, and Other Parts of the British Empire. A Reply to “Dunraven” (Second Edition, n.p., 1880). Vol. 5.
[33.] Natural Law; or the Science of Justice: A Treatise on Natural Law, Natural Justice, Natural Rights, Natural Liberty, and Natural Society; showing that all Legislation whatsoever is an Absurdity, a Usurpation, and a Crime. Part First. (Boston: A. Williams & Co., 1882). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 5.
[34.] A Letter to Thomas F. Bayard: Challenging his Right - and that of all the Other Socalled Senators and Representatives in Congress - to Exercise any Legislative Power whatever over the People of the United States (Boston: Published by the Author, 1882). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 5.
[36.] A Letter to Grover Cleveland, on his False Inaugural Address, the Usurpations and Crimes of Lawmakers and Judges, and the Consequent Poverty, Ignorance, and Servitude of the People (Boston: Benj. R. Tucker, Publisher, 1886). Stand alone pamphlet and Vol. 5.