The American citizen: his rights and duties - 1857 civics

In this review of The American citizen: his rights and duties, the reviewer finds a useful historical civics primer for readers interested in 19th century American constitutional thought. Originally published in 1857 and reproduced from the Cornell University Library print, this edition is best for students, historians, and collectors who need a faithful scan of the original text rather than a modern annotated edition. The single biggest reason to buy is access to an unabridged, period-correct copy of John Henry Hopkins' treatment of citizenship and constitutional spirit as preserved in a careful archival scan.

Key Features

• Original 1857 text: Presents John Henry Hopkins' arguments in the same form they appeared in the mid-19th century, useful for primary-source research.
• Archival scan quality: Scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format, which preserves page layout and original typography for accurate reference.
• Complete cover-to-cover reproduction: All pages were scanned, so marginalia, marks, and notations from the original volume remain available for provenance and annotation study.
• Library source: Derived from the Cornell University Library print collections, providing reliable bibliographic provenance for scholars and librarians.
• Reprint series context: Issued through the Michigan Historical Reprint Series, making it easy to locate alongside other historical reprints on related topics.

Who It's For

This edition is aimed at academic researchers, legal historians, and civics instructors who need an authentic mid-19th century perspective on citizenship and constitutional duties. It is particularly valuable when the physical evidence of marginalia and printing conventions matters to interpretation.

Readers seeking a modern commentary, updated legal analysis, or a clean typeset reissue with editorial notes should look elsewhere; this product is a scanned facsimile intended to preserve original appearance rather than provide contemporary synthesis.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Faithful reproduction of the original 1857 work preserves historical context and typography.
• High-quality APT BookScan capture and JPG 2000 conversion maintain readable page images for study.
• Provenance from Cornell University Library provides confidence in bibliographic authenticity.

Cons

• As a facsimile scan, it includes original marks and marginalia which may distract readers wanting a clean text.

Specifications

Title	The American citizen: his rights and duties
Author	John Henry Hopkins
Original publication year	1857
Source collection	Cornell University Library print collections
Reprint series	Michigan Historical Reprint Series
Scan process	APT BookScan, converted to JPG 2000
Condition of images	Includes marks, notations, and marginalia present in original

Our Verdict

This scanned reprint is a solid choice for scholars and collectors who need an authentic 1857 presentation of Hopkins' work on citizenship and constitutional spirit. While not a modern annotated edition, its archival scan and library provenance make it good value for research and historical study where original layout and marginalia matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a modern annotated edition?
This is a facsimile scan of the original 1857 volume and does not include modern editorial annotations or commentary.

Are the scans complete and faithful to the original?
Yes, the book was scanned cover to cover on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000, and original marks and marginalia are retained.

Where did the physical copy come from?
The scanned volume is from the Cornell University Library print collections and presented via the Michigan Historical Reprint Series.