Jun 27, 2024 - Sale 2675

Sale 2675 - Lot 48

Price Realized: $ 2,500
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--HISTORY.) William Gordon. The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the . . . United States. 9 folding maps. 4 volumes. 8vo, later ½ calf over marbled boards, first volume worn and unmatched, others with minor wear and removed label tags; intermittent foxing, offsetting to maps, moderate edge wear to first map only; each volume with old inked high school library stamp on page 1 and manuscript catalog number on title page. London, 1788

Additional Details

First edition of the first full American-penned history of the war. The Rev. William Gordon (1728-1807) came to America in 1770 to serve as the pastor of the Third Congregational Church in Roxbury, MA, and became a strong supporter of the patriot cause. However, he worried that his history would ruffle the feathers of some American politicians, so he returned to England in 1786 to publish this work. George Washington appears on the subscriber list alongside many other distinguished Americans, so Gordon's reputation must have been respectable. "To its preparation Jefferson contributed some aid"--Howes G256. Sabin 28011.