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Catalogue 257 The Streeter Sale Revisited |
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Section IV: Filson to Hawaiian Hymnal |
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Papers
on Book Collecting by William S. Reese
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“The most famous and important 92. Filson,
John: THE DISCOVERY, SETTLEMENT AND PRESENT STATE OF KENTUCKE: AND AN
ESSAY TOWARDS THE TOPOGRAPHY, AND NATURAL HISTORY OF THAT IMPORTANT
COUNTRY...THE ADVENTURES OF COL. DANIEL BOON, ONE OF THE FIRST
SETTLERS...AN
ACCOUNT OF THE INDIAN NATIONS...THE STAGES AND DISTANCES BETWEEN
PHILADELPHIA AND THE FALLS OF THE OHIO; FROM PITTSBURG TO PENSACOLA AND
SEVERAL OTHER PLACES.... Wilmington, De.: Printed by James Adams,
1784. 118pp. plus final original blank. Contemporary wrapper, with
original side stitching, untrimmed. Contemporary ownership inscription on
front wrapper: “Toeb——[?] Hopkins, Book, Discovery and Settlement of
Kentucke, 1769.” Two brief references to passages in the text in a
contemporary hand on recto of rear wrapper. Wrapper worn and soiled.
Title-page worn and soiled, with repaired tear (affecting half a dozen
words). Second contemporary ownership inscription on verso of final
original blank, “Connell Israell Angell His Book Thare was a garl [sic]
and she.” A few ink marks in margins of a few pages, upper outer corner
of pp.95-96 torn (no loss). A very good copy. In a half morocco and cloth
box. A
remarkable copy of this key work of late 18th-century Americana in a
contemporary binding with contemporary inscriptions, and with the text
pages untrimmed. According to
Vail, Filson’s Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke
is the “most famous and important frontier book of the period.”
The first accurate description of the beautiful country south of
the Ohio River and west of the Alleghenies just beginning to open to
American settlement, the work also brought to the American public for the
first time the figure of Daniel Boone, the quintessential American
frontiersman whose adventures are described here in detail.
Boone’s experiences with Indians and his numerous captivities and
escapes are covered. Filson
himself was later murdered by Indians in Kentucky.
Filson’s map, which is described on the titlepage as accompanying
the book, was in fact issued in Philadelphia, and is virtually never found
with the book. The first edition of ...Kentucke... is of the greatest rarity.
One of the key American frontier books, here in a remarkable
contemporary binding with contemporary inscriptions. Eberstadt paid $1100 for the Streeter copy. 93. Fischer,
M., and Antonio Y. Abeytia: NEW MEXICO. TERRITORIAL BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION.
REPORT AS TO SOCORRO COUNTY. Socorro, N.M.: Socorro Daily News Office,
1881. [9]pp. Original printed wrappers. Near fine. A
rare and early New Mexico imprint, singing the praises of the west-central
New Mexico county and its resources, especially mineral.
No copies are listed on OCLC. NUC
locates only one copy, at the Huntington Library. The Streeter copy went to parties unknown for $35. 94. [Fish,
Reeder McCandless]: THE GRIM CHIEFTAIN OF KANSAS, AND OTHER FREE-STATE MEN
IN THEIR STRUGGLES AGAINST SLAVERY. SOME POLITICAL SEANCES, INCIDENTS,
INSIDE POLITICAL VIEWS AND MOVEMENTS IN THEIR CAREER. By One Who Knows.
Cherryvale, Ks.: Clarion Book & Job Print, 1885. [4],145pp. 16mo.
Modern marbled cloth. Very good. In a half morocco box. This
copy bears the bookplate of William Elsey Connelly and two inscriptions
concerning this book and its history.
In one he writes: “Topeka, Aug. 20, 1913.
J.B. Abbott did not write The Grim Chieftain of Kansas.
It was written by Reeder M. Fish, associate editor of ‘The
Baldwin Criterion.’ Lillie
K. Sherwood was the daughter of Reeder M. Fish.”
A rare account of James Lane’s struggles in organizing the
Free-State party in Kansas. “The
most graphic and complete presentation of an era altogether the most
remarkable in the history of the most important personage (i.e., James
Lane) known in the early struggles of Kansas” – Preface.
“Lane was, to say the least, a controversial figure; many of his
actions could be criticized. Still,
he had his defenders and Fish was one of them” – Graff.
This is an important narrative of the bitter wars on the Kansas
border preceding the Civil War. Streeter assigned authorship to Lillie K. Sheward, but Fish is now
established as the author. It
went to Goodspeed’s for $125. 95. [Fitch,
Thomas]: AN EXPLANATION OF SAYBROOK PLATFORM; OR, THE PRINCIPLES OF THE
CONSOCIATED CHURCHES IN THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT: COLLECTED FROM THEIR
PLAN OF UNION. Hartford: Printed by Thomas Green, 1765. 39pp. Small
quarto. Gathered signatures, stitched. Rather tanned, else very good,
uncut. In a cloth box, leather label (erroneously titled on spine as made
for a different book). Fitch
was governor of Connecticut from 1754 to 1766, and one of that colony’s
greatest lawyers. “Fitch
makes here a logical legal argument that the church councils provided for
in the Saybrook Platform lack the power to make decisions which are
judicially binding on the individual churches.
Fitch’s position was in accord with the general trend of thought
in Connecticut against what might be called ‘outside rule’ in matters
of church government” – Streeter.
The last copy to appear at auction was the Streeter copy. The Streeter copy sold to Scribner’s for $80.
It was later acquired by collector Michael Zinman, and went with
his collection of early American imprints to the Library Company of
Philadelphia in 2000. Anonymous Account of the Gold Rush 96. [Fleming,
G.A.]: CALIFORNIA: ITS PAST HISTORY; ITS PRESENT POSITION; ITS FUTURE
PROSPECTS: CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY FROM ITS COLONIZATION BY
THE SPANIARDS TO THE PRESENT TIME...A MINUTE AND AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE
DISCOVERY OF THE GOLD REGION...INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE RISE, PROGRESS,
AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE MORMON SETTLEMENTS.... London. 1850.
viii, 270pp. plus three colored engraved plates (one of which is a colored
frontispiece and another a colored engraved titlepage) and a colored map.
Original brown patterned cloth, rebacked with most of original gilt
backstrip laid down. Later gift inscription on front free endpaper. Small
oval ink stamp in upper margin of p.9, else quite clean and neat
internally. About very good, untrimmed. Attributed
to G.A. Fleming. The text is
fairly comprehensive, according to Cowan, “considerably more complete
than many of the contemporary accounts.”
Howes calls it “one of the fullest and most interesting of
contemporary accounts.” “The
engraved frontispiece is one of the glories of Gold Rush literature” –
Kurutz. This is an unusual work, of which there are several variants.
The present copy agrees with the Streeter copy and those of Yale
and the British Museum, which have two colored plates, a colored
frontispiece, and a map. The
coloration on the plates and title in this copy is handsome.
Howes notes that a few copies have nine plates and a colored map
(which he gives a “c” rating), but that most copies have only three
colored plates (which he rates a “b”).
Kurutz concurs and lists a total of nine plates and a map.
A rare book in any iteration. Howell paid $125 for the Streeter copy, and it reappeared in his
catalogue 50 for $300 in 1980. 97. Flint,
Timothy: RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LAST TEN YEARS, PASSED IN OCCASIONAL
RESIDENCES AND JOURNEYINGS IN THE VALLEY OF THE MISSISSIPPI...IN A SERIES
OF LETTERS.... Boston. 1826. [2],395pp. Original boards, paper label.
Spine splitting at center, front hinge carefully repaired by stitching at
an early date. Light scattered foxing. Withal a very good copy, in
original state, untrimmed. One
of the most significant accounts of early 19th-century travel in the Ohio
and Mississippi valleys, and the first book by one of the more notable
literary men of the time. Flint’s
travels took him to New Orleans, Covington, Alexandria, Cape Girardeau,
St. Charles, and New Madrid. He
comments on virtually every aspect of life as he saw it in the region:
commerce, slavery, morality, geography, agriculture, transportation, etc.
He takes special note of the flurry of land speculation, as well as
the penchant of the sons of Kentucky planters for dissipation and
gambling. Although Flint’s
sympathy for the people he encountered tends to blind him to some of the
more objectionable aspects of life in the valley, his is a most important
work. He returned from his
journey expecting to die due to his ill health.
Instead, he recovered and began his quite estimable literary
career. This book is preceded
by only three extant pamphlet sermons and orations. The Streeter copy brought a strong $150. Important Narrative of Spanish Florida 98. [Florida]:
NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO THE SPANISH MAIN, IN THE SHIP “TWO
FRIENDS;”...WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING A DETAIL OF THE SEMINOLE WAR,
AND THE EXECUTION OF ARBUTHNOT AND AMBRISTER. London. 1819.
[12],328pp. plus errata. Half title. Original boards, expertly rebacked.
Some light scattered foxing. A lovely copy, untrimmed and partially
unopened. The
author resided in Florida from the fall of 1817 to the following spring.
His is an important account of the last years of Spanish rule in
Florida, and includes a narrative of a journey by land from St. Augustine
to St. Mary’s on the Florida-Georgia border.
“Almost the whole of the volume is devoted to the Seminole
Indians; the barbarous character of the war of the Americans with them;
and anecdotes respecting the Seminoles” – Field.
The book is also an important source for the Arbuthnot-Ambrister
incident and M’Gregor’s filibuster. Henry Stevens paid $225 for the Streeter copy. British Settlements in Illinois 99. Flower,
Richard: LETTERS FROM THE ILLINOIS, 1820. 1821. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF
THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT AT ALBION AND ITS VICINITY, AND A REFUTATION OF
VARIOUS MISREPRESENTATIONS, THOSE MORE PARTICULARLY OF MR. COBBETT.
London. 1822. xi,[1],[9]-76pp. Modern half morocco and cloth boards, spine
gilt. Very good. An
early and important account of life in Illinois.
Flower describes life in Birkbeck’s British settlement in
Illinois, located southwest of Vincennes, Indiana, during the period from
January, 1820 to August, 1821, in an effort to encourage emigration from
England to the colony. “A
source book of considerable consequence and not easily come by” –
Eberstadt. The NUC
lists only six copies. Scarce. Carnegie paid $250 for the Streeter copy. One of the First California 100. Foster,
George G.: THE GOLD REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA: BEING A SUCCINCT DESCRIPTION OF
THE GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, TOPOGRAPHY, AND GENERAL FEATURES OF CALIFORNIA:
INCLUDING A CAREFULLY PREPARED ACCOUNT OF THE GOLD REGIONS OF THAT
FORTUNATE COUNTRY. PREPARED FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND OTHER AUTHENTIC
SOURCES. New York: Dewitt & Davenport, Tribune Buildings, 1848.
80pp. Frontispiece map. Original printed brown wrappers. Spine repaired,
minor loss to wrapper along spine. Internally clean and bright. Very good.
In a cloth clamshell box, leather label. Edward
Eberstadt called this “the first considerable pamphlet on the Gold
Regions and but two others (Sherwood and Simpson) are contemporary with
it.” Several editions of
this work were published in 1848-49, after this first edition.
“Foster, in his eloquent and stirring introduction...correctly
predicted that a fortune could be made by the enterprising blacksmith,
wheelwright, carpenter, shoemaker, etc.
This slender work is a useful anthology of some of the earliest
reports of the gold discovery and features the writings of Farnham, Mason,
Doniphan, Larkin, Folsom, Fremont, Colton, and articles from the June and
August issues of the Californian” – Kurutz.
The frontispiece map shows California from Los Angeles to Sutter
Buttes, with the Gold Region encircled by a dotted line.
According to Wheat, the map is one of the first to mention the Gold
Region. This is the first
edition of Foster’s work, but the wrappers are not printed in gold, nor
does it include the six leaves of ads usually found at the rear.
This copy appears never to have included the advertisement pages.
An important early gold rush book. The Nebraska Book Company paid $110 for the Streeter copy. 101. Franchère,
Gabriel: RELATION D’UN VOYAGE A LA CÔTE DU NORD-OUEST DE L’AMÉRIQUE
SEPTENTRIONALE DANS LES ANNÉES 1810, 11, 12, 13, ET 14. Montreal.
1820. 284pp. Half title. Contemporary calf, re-backed in unsophisticated
early calf. Front free endpaper excised. Author’s name in contemporary
ink hand (but not his autograph) on half title. Small unobtrusive label
adhered to upper forecorner of half title. Minor paper repair on
titlepage, text unaffected. Some scattered foxing. Overall a good copy. In
a half morocco and cloth box. This
is the first printed account of the Astoria enterprise.
Franchère sailed from New York in 1810 and spent 1811 to 1814 at
Astoria. He returned overland
through Canada and settled in Montreal.
He provides the only firsthand account of the massacre of the crew
of the Tonquin on the Northwest Coast, as related to him by the native
interpreter who was the sole survivor, and who escaped after being held
captive by the Indians for two years.
Streeter calls Franchère’s narrative “the first printed
account of the overland journey back from Oregon to the east through
Canada.” A British edition
published in 1854 is a fairly common book, but this original Montreal
edition has become rare. This
copy contains the half title, “a particularly scarce feature”
(Eberstadt). Howell paid $1300 for the Streeter copy, which is now in the Hill
Collection at the University of California, San Diego. 102. Franchere,
Gabriel: NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO THE NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA IN THE
YEARS 1811, 1812, 1813, AND 1814 OR THE FIRST AMERICAN SETTLEMENT ON THE
PACIFIC. New York. 1854. 376pp. plus three plates (including
frontispiece). Original cloth. Slight snag at head of spine, else very
good. “Most
important source on the Astor adventure” – Howes.
Franchère was with the party John Jacob Astor sent to the Pacific
Northwest to establish a fur trading base in the Oregon country.
That party was the first to use South Pass, which was to become the
main pass over the northern Rockies. Franchère
first published his account in Montreal in 1820.
That edition is now extremely rare.
This English language edition, prepared by J.V. Huntington,
appeared when the author was an old man retired in Brooklyn. Streeter bought his copy from Eberstadt for $65 in 1945.
At the Streeter sale it went to Howell for $150, who quickly sold
it to a private collector for $250. I
bought it with that private collection in 1991 and sold it, also to a
private collector, for $1500. The
premium paid down the line reflects the wonderful association nature of
the Streeter copy, which contains a presentation inscription to fur trade
pioneer Ramsey Crooks. My
price for the present copy reflects the standard market for an otherwise
fairly common book. Presentation Copy of a Great Western 103. [Francis,
Charles Spencer]: SPORT AMONG THE ROCKIES. THE RECORD OF A FISHING AND
HUNTING TRIP IN NORTH-WESTERN MONTANA. By the Scribe. Troy, N.Y. 1889.
[10],134pp., printed in double columns, plus forty-eight mounted original
photographs. Thick quarto. Original three-quarter morocco and cloth,
neatly rebacked with original backstrip laid down with bumped corner tips
repaired, t.e.g. The photographs are bright, unfaded prints, without any
blemishes. Internally clean. Very good. In a half morocco and cloth box. A
presentation copy, inscribed by Francis on the front free endpaper in
August 1889. Only fifteen
copies of this wonderful book were made, for private distribution by the
author. The remarkable
photographs, which are by the author himself, represent a vivid and
important photographic record of Montana at the time.
Included are photographs of towns, ranches, Indian agencies,
Indians, portraits, landscapes, camp scenes, and other fine views.
The text is comprised of twenty-five letters by Francis written for
the Troy Times, describing a hunting trip to Montana in August and
September of 1888. “The
narrative is of surprising interest, describing the outfitting at Great
Falls; the Baker massacre; Trapper Bill Weaver; Piegan Indians; the Big
Horn; Starvation Camp; western horses and Indian ponies; horse thieves;
Blackfoot Agency (including school groups); life among the Indians; cattle
ranges and ranches; Great Falls, its mushroom growth, future, etc.
The volume is a veritable ‘book of the plains’ – a home-made
production in make-up and appearance, and one of the most sought of all
books relating to Montana” – Eberstadt. A great Montana rarity, and one of the finest of 19th-century
photographically illustrated books of the West. Eberstadt bought the Streeter copy for sporting book collector Edward S.
Litchfield. It appeared at the
sale of his collection at Sotheby’s in 2001 and sold for $29,500 to a
phone bidder, generally thought to be Sheik Saud of Qatar. 104. [Franklin,
Benjamin]: SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL, FROM ITS FIRST RISE
TO THE BEGINNING OF THE FIFTH MONTH, CALLED MAY, 1754. Philadelphia:
Printed by B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1754. 40pp. Quarto. Late 19th-century
three-quarter morocco and marbled boards. Boards a bit rubbed. Uniformly
tanned. Trimmed close, but really only touching a few letters of text.
Final leaf loosening. Good. The
first part of what became a two-part account of the founding and early
operation of the first hospital in the British colonies of North America.
“The Account... describes the plan on which the hospital
was founded, rules for admission, rules for the choice of staff, and an
‘Abstract of Cases Admitted’” – Streeter.
The hospital was incorporated in 1751 with the financial support of
Philadelphia citizens and the Assembly.
This first section is generally believed to have been written by
Benjamin Franklin, who was instrumental in the founding of the hospital
and who acted as one of its managers until 1756.
A Continuation... was produced as part of a fundraising
effort in 1761. Miller notes
that “1500 copies were ordered off the press” of this first part,
though fewer may actually have been produced. Not a direct comparison, as Streeter had both this and A
Continuation.... That set
sold for $6500 at the sale to William Middendorf, reappearing at his sale
at Christie’s in 1989, where it was bought by us, who resold it to a
private collector who still has it. 105. [Franklin,
Benjamin, or Joseph Galloway]: A TRUE AND IMPARTIAL STATE OF THE PROVINCE
OF PENNSYLVANIA. CONTAINING, AN EXACT ACCOUNT OF THE NATURE OF ITS
GOVERNMENT...WITH A TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE GOVERNORS
AND ASSEMBLIES...THE WHOLE BEING A FULL ANSWER TO THE PAMPHLETS INTITLED A
BRIEF STATE, AND A BRIEF VIEW.... Philadelphia: Printed by W. Dunlap,
1759. v,173,[1],34,[1]pp. Contemporary plain front wrapper. Light toning.
Later 18th-century ownership signature at head of first text page. Old
institutional stamp in bottom margin of dedication leaf. Very good. In a
half morocco and cloth box. With
the dedication in the first of two states: “Dedication, To The Right
Honorable William Pitt, Esq.” Authorship
of this volume has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin and to Joseph
Galloway. A defense of the
Quakers in the Pennsylvania Assembly against the actions of the governor.
A Brief State... and A Brief View... mentioned in the
title are by William Smith, an advocate of Proprietary government and a
long-time political opponent of Franklin. Goodspeed’s paid $300 for the Streeter copy. A Guide for Youth from Ben 106. Franklin,
Benjamin: MEMOIRES DE LA VIE PRIVEE DE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, ECRITS PAR LUI-MEME,
ET ADRESSES A SON FILS.... Paris: Chez Buisson, 1791. vi,156,[207]pp.
(pp.204-207 misnumbered 360-363). Modern plain boards, leather label.
Unobtrusive contemporary ownership stamp on titlepage. Overall a very good
copy, internally crisp. In a half morocco case. First
edition, preceding any English language printing, of Franklin’s
autobiography. This is
certainly Franklin’s best known book, and a classic Americanum in which
Franklin tells the story of his climb, through thrift and frugality, from
poverty to success and influence. It
is also one of the best pictures of life in Philadelphia during his youth
and middle age. Franklin is
remarkably truthful throughout the work about people with whom he was
involved and his own motives for his actions.
The first British edition appeared in 1793, and the first American
not until 1794. The Streeter copy went for $300. 107. Freeman,
George D.: MIDNIGHT AND NOONDAY OR DARK DEEDS UNRAVELED. GIVING TWENTY
YEARS EXPERIENCE ON THE FRONTIER.... Caldwell, Ks. 1890. 406pp. plus
plates. Frontispiece portrait. Original maroon blindstamped cloth, spine
stamped in gilt. Cloth discolored and rubbed, worn at spine ends and
corners. Inner hinges cracked but holding; inner front hinge repaired,
partially obscuring presentation inscription. Frontispiece loosely
inserted and with a few chips around edges. Tanned, as usual. Good. A
presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front pastedown.
This is the first edition, second issue, with the added page of
attestations, and with “Talbot” spelled correctly on the titlepage.
Adams describes this edition as “exceedingly rare...the first
edition is so scarce that some collectors think the 1892 edition the only
one published.” Includes
much material on the Talbot raid on Caldwell and the bank robbers, Henry
Brown and Ben Wheeler. “An
extremely rare history of Caldwell during this vital period” – Six
Score. Presentation copies
are exceedingly rare. The Nebraska Book Company paid $125 for the Streeter copy.
It reappeared at Swann in 2001, where we bought it, and is now in
the Yale Western Americana Collection. Important Early Guide to Wisconsin 108. Freeman,
Samuel: THE EMIGRANT’S HAND BOOK AND GUIDE TO WISCONSIN, COMPRISING
INFORMATION RESPECTING AGRICULTURAL AND MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT...SKETCH
OF MILWAUKEE...A FULL AND ACCURATE TABLE OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION OF
THAT AND OTHER PORTS ON LAKE MICHIGAN...AND OTHER GENERAL INFORMATION TO
EMIGRANTS. Milwaukee, Wi.: Sentinel and Gazette Power Press Print,
1851. 148pp. including ads. Original sheep-backed printed boards. Boards
rubbed, front board loosening, hinges cracked, spine worn. First signature
loosening, some light foxing. Good. In a half morocco box. A
thorough guide for emigrants to Wisconsin, largely designed for the use of
Europeans, and the first important one printed there.
It includes brief descriptions of the major cities of the east
coast, and naturalization requirements.
There is information on agriculture, industry, rivers, cities,
employment opportunities, etc. “This
is a quite complete handbook and guide to the state with interesting
comments on wages and the like” – Streeter sale.
Among the numerous advertisers are railroads, hotels, attorneys,
architects, house builders, daguerreotype studios, a foreign language
bookseller, and several breweries. OCLC
locates only six copies. The Streeter copy brought $425. The Best Edition of Fremont, 109. Fremont,
John C.: NARRATIVE OF THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, IN
THE YEAR 1842; AND TO OREGON AND NORTH CALIFORNIA, IN THE YEARS 1843-44.
Syracuse. 1847. 427pp. plus two plates, folding map, and advertisements.
Original gilt pictorial cloth. Spine ends slightly frayed. Some minor
brown spots on map. Else a very good, tight copy. Considered
by Howes and other authorities the “best edition” because of its
inclusion of Rufus B. Sage’s superb map of the West, which otherwise
appeared only in Sage’s book of the preceding year.
It is far more rare than the regular Fremont map, which it
resembles in many respects. Fremont’s
narrative is one of the most important western explorations, chronicling
his trip over the Oregon Trail and into the Great Basin.
It was published in numerous editions. The Streeter copy went for a very cheap $110 to Nebenzahl. Washington on the Ohio 110. [French
and Indian War]: STATE OF THE BRITISH AND FRENCH COLONIES IN NORTH
AMERICA, WITH RESPECT TO NUMBER OF PEOPLE, FORCES, FORTS, INDIANS, TRADE
AND OTHER ADVANTAGES.... London. 1755. [2],190[i.e. 150]pp. Later
three-quarter gilt black calf and marbled boards, gilt-stamped spine.
Joints slightly worn, rubbed. Contemporary ownership signature at head of
titlepage, later signatures on front free endpaper. Very good. An
important pamphlet, written as two letters, placing the blame for the
situation in North America on the bad management in America as well as
Europe, and including remarks on Washington’s mission to the Ohio, the
importance of that region and the claims of the French, with some material
on Nova Scotia. The anonymous
author draws upon the writings of Archibald Kennedy and Cadwallader
Colden, and on Franklin’s Observations Upon the Increase of Mankind
(then circulating in manuscript, but as yet unpublished), and William
Smith’s Brief State of Pennsylvania.
John Huske was incensed by the present work, especially by the
author’s impartiality and the criticism of the British colonists’
treatment of the Indians, and voiced his anger in his Present State of
North America, published the same year.
“This anonymous work is a calm and dispassionate statement of the
case of England against the encirclement policy of France...In emphasizing
the importance of the Indians to the English, the author exposes the
abuses which the Indians had suffered at the hands of the colonists” –
Streeter. The present copy is
without the map, not found with all copies.
Quite rare. The Streeter copy was a huge bargain at $90 to Scribner’s.
In 1994 we bought it from the catalogue of a Canadian bookseller,
and later sold it to the Society of the Cincinnati. 111. French,
William: SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF A WESTERN RANCH-MAN. NEW MEXICO, 1883 –
1899. London. [1927]. vi,[2],283pp. plus ads. Cloth. Wear to
extremities. Neat bookplate and unobtrusive ink number. Good. Scarce
first edition of “one of the really good, but little-known, books on the
West...contain[ing] information heretofore unknown about many of the
western outlaws, such as the Wild Bunch, Joel Fowler, Black Jack
Ketchum” (Adams). The Streeter copy went for a very expensive $175, to Howell. 112. Frost,
Donald McKay: NOTES ON GENERAL ASHLEY THE OVERLAND TRAIL AND SOUTH PASS.
Worcester, Ma. 1945. 159pp. plus folding map in rear pocket. Folio. Half
cloth and boards. Slight edge wear, else fine. From
an edition limited to fifty copies on “Utopian” paper.
Chronicles Gen. Ashley’s influence on the Rocky Mountain fur
trade, especially during the period from 1822 to 1826. The Streeter copy was sold to Stampfli for $70, then sold at Swann in
1989 for $300. 113. Fulkerson,
H.S.: RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY DAYS IN MISSISSIPPI. Vicksburg.
1885. 159pp. Original cloth. Inner hinge cracked. Bit tanned, some
soiling. A good plus copy. Much
material on steamboating, slavery, gambling, duels, railroads, and the
Mississippi Bar. Also included
is a brief account of the author’s trip to Indiana in 1843.
Some of these sketches were revised for inclusion in this work
after first being published in the Vicksburg Evening Post, and many
are here published for the first time. In printed wrappers, the Streeter copy fetched $200. The Signet Library Copy 114. Gage,
Thomas: THE ENGLISH-AMERICAN HIS TRAVAIL BY SEA AND LAND: OR, A NEW SURVEY
OF THE WEST-INDIAS [sic], CONTAINING A JOURNALL OF THREE THOUSAND
AND THREE HUNDRED MILES WITHIN THE MAIN LAND OF AMERICA.... London.
1648. [10],220,[12]pp. Small folio. 18th-century speckled calf, gilt stamp
on front board, expertly rebacked in antique matching calf, boards
re-gilt, leather label, spine gilt. Binding a bit worn at corners and
edges. Faint stain on leaves B2 and B3. A few contemporary notes in text,
some later pencil notes in margins. Very good. The
Signet Library copy, with their gilt stamp on the front board.
One of the most celebrated travel books of its day.
Gage was an Englishman raised in Spain.
He entered the Dominican Order and set out for the New World,
traveling by way of the Philippines and across the Pacific.
He spent most of the next twelve years in Central America, the West
Indies, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.
When he finally returned to England and converted to the Church of
England, he wrote this book to urge British seizure of the Spanish empire
in America. Since the Spanish
had jealously guarded foreign access to their dominions, this was the
first detailed description to reach Europe of the regions visited by Gage,
and it was widely reprinted and translated. The Streeter copy, in similar condition, brought $250. Classic of the Santa Fe Trail 115. Garrard,
Lewis H.: WAH-TO-YAH, AND THE TAOS TRAIL; OR PRAIRIE TRAVEL AND SCALP
DANCES, WITH A LOOK AT LOS RANCHEROS FROM MULEBACK AND THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
CAMPFIRE. Cincinnati. 1850. [6],349pp. Original cloth. Head and toe of
spine a bit frayed, moderate rubbing at edges. Scattered foxing.
Contemporary pencilings on fly leaves. Else very good. The
most readable work on the Santa Fe Trail, and a classic of Western
Americana. The author, only
seventeen when he set out for the West, managed to be in the thick of the
stirring events of 1846, the taking of New Mexico, the Taos Massacre, and
the final subjugation of the province.
All are recounted with verve and accuracy. This classic has moved up strongly in value in recent years.
Goodspeed’s paid $90 for the Streeter copy. With Map and Letters 116. Gass,
Patrick: VOYAGE DES CAPITAINES LEWIS ET CLARKE [sic], DEPUIS
L’EMBOUCHURE DU MISSOURI, JUSQU’A L’ENTREE DE LA COLUMBIA DANS
L’OCEAN PACIFIQUE, FAIT DES LES ANNEES 1804, 1805 ET 1806.... Paris.
1810. xviii,443pp. plus folding map. Half title. Original speckled
wrappers, printed paper label. Moderate wear to wrappers, especially along
spine and joints. A lovely copy, in original condition, untrimmed and
unopened. In a half morocco and cloth clamshell box, spine gilt. Gass
was one of the sergeants of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
He kept a daily journal for the course of the journey, as
instructed by Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis, and was thus able to
publish his account only a year after the return of the expedition.
His narrative was eagerly seized upon in the absence of the
official report, which did not appear until 1814.
This is the first French edition and the third to appear overall,
after the Pittsburgh 1807 and London 1808 editions.
It is the first to appear in a foreign language, and is notable for
containing the J.B. Tardieu map, “Carte servir au Voyage des Capes.
Lewis et Clarke...,” the first published map to mention the expedition
and show part of its route. This
French edition also adds two letters of William Clark not published in
other editions of Gass: that of April 2, 1805, from Fort Mandan, written
to William Henry Harrison; and that of Sept. 23, 1806, written upon
returning, to his brother. The
second letter is listed separately in Wagner-Camp and had various
periodical appearances, but first was published in book form herein. Howell paid $250 for the Streeter copy. An Important Part of Oglethorpe’s 117. [Georgia]:
SELECT TRACTS RELATING TO COLONIES. CONSISTING OF I. AN ESSAY ON
PLANTATIONS. By Sir Francis Bacon...II. SOME PASSAGE TAKEN OUT OF THE
HISTORY OF FLORENCE, &c. III. A TREATISE. By John De Witt...IV. THE
BENEFIT OF PLANTATIONS OR COLONIES. By William Penn. V. A DISCOURSE
CONCERNING PLANTATIONS. By Sir Josiah Child. London. [1732]. [6],40pp.
Dbd. Titlepage a bit dusty, else clean and very good. Despite
the apparently general nature of this collection, it was an integral part
of Gen. James Oglethorpe’s promotional schemes for his new colony in
Georgia. Verner Crane, in his
essay on Georgia promotional works, describes how the Trustees of the new
colony set out to sell their program to Parliament and the nation through
a series of pamphlets and essays. He
attributes this compilation to Oglethorpe and states: “Select Tracts
takes an important place in the Georgia propaganda.
The pamphlet in its selections...met the most serious objection
which could arise against the Georgia project – the current prejudice
against draining population away from the mother country.”
Streeter states that “this is one of the important Georgia
tracts” and notes the references to it in the works of Benjamin Martyn
and other Georgia promoters. Nebenzahl paid $225 for the Streeter copy. Gifford’s San Francisco Panorama: 118. Gifford,
Charles B.: SAN FRANCISCO, 1862. FROM RUSSIAN HILL. San Francisco:
Printed by L. Nagel, published by A. Rosenfield, 1862. Tinted lithograph,
in five sections, 15 x 108 inches, printed on heavier paper. Expertly
conserved and mounted on tissue. Staining and some paper loss, almost
entirely confined to the lower margin (caption portion) of the center
portion and right half of the entire image. The image itself is quite
bright with nice variations in tone. In good condition overall. This
extraordinary lithograph – actually five sheets joined together – is
the first panorama of San Francisco, one of the most striking early views
of that city, and the most ambitious city view undertaken in the American
West up to that time. Not
until Edward Muybridge’s photographic panorama of San Francisco several
decades later was the city shown so completely in a single view.
“One of the rarest and most important of items relating to San
Francisco” – Eberstadt. Gifford’s view, taken from Russian Hill, was executed in five separate
sections, each with full title information, and a text of numbered
locations runs across the bottom of the entire panorama, with one hundred
places identified. The
Presidio can be seen in section one, Alcatraz in section two, and the
first heavily built-up streets in section three.
Section four includes the most densely settled area, along Market
and Mission, stretching into section five, which goes to Mission Dolores
and beyond. Details of
buildings, streets, and other features are rendered with great exactness
and a stunning wealth of detail. Churches,
synagogues, the Masonic temple, wharves, and streets are all identified.
“...[I]t took an ambitious project like Charles Gifford’s
multisectioned panorama to record completely the city’s tremendous
growth” – Deak. The artist, Charles Gifford, came to California in 1860, and was active
until 1877. According to Reps,
“Gifford’s finest and most ambitious view was a sweeping panorama from
Russian Hill.” The view was
lithographed by Louis Nagel, who had been well-known as a lithographer in
New York before coming to San Francisco in 1856.
Reps notes that the publisher, Rosenfield, made the panorama
available in three versions in 1862: one printed on thin paper and mounted
on cloth; another as here, printed on single sheets on heavier paper; and
a third mounted on cloth and fastened to wooden rollers. Deak and Reps locate six copies of this panorama (MWA, DLC, CU-B, CSmH,
Wells Fargo, California State Pioneers).
Peters calls it “important and rare.”
It is an incredible production, both as a landmark in western
lithography, and as a view of a major American city in the midst of a
period of tremendous growth. Howell paid $500 for the Streeter copy. 119. Gilleland,
J.C.: THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI PILOT, CONSISTING OF A SET OF CHARTS OF
THOSE RIVERS, REPRESENTING THEIR CHANNELS, ISLANDS, RIPPLES, RAPIDS,
SHOALS, BARS, ROCKS, &c. ACCOMPANIED WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THE USE OF
NAVIGATORS. TO WHICH IS ADDED A GEOGRAPHY OF THE STATES AND TERRITORIES,
WEST AND SOUTH OF THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS. Pittsburgh: Published by H.
Patterson & Lambdin, 1820. 46,47-274pp. including sixteen maps.
Contemporary calf, rebacked, with original label laid down. Tanned, some
foxing. Overall a good plus copy. “Direction
and charts for navigating the Ohio from Pittsburgh to its confluence with
the Mississippi at Cairo, followed by a Geography with a separate
title. Several bibliographers
claim that this work is based on the Cramer Navigator.
I have compared several pages of these directions and charts and
found that Gilleland’s observations were quite independent of
Cramer’s” – Streeter. “The
book is not common” – Thomson. Also
includes advice to emigrants on land titles, etc., with a focus on Ohio. Nebenzahl paid $700 for the Streeter copy. 120. Greene,
Max.: THE KANZAS REGION: FOREST, PRAIRIE, DESERT, MOUNTAIN, VALE, AND
RIVER.... New York. 1856. 192pp. plus ads. Map. Original cloth. Head
and toe of spine chipped. Slight marginal dampstaining in lower forecorner
of first twenty leaves. Else very good. “This
work provides a good account of the prairie and mountain region featuring
many incidents from the author’s own experiences from 1850 to 1855.
It also contains a history of the Santa Fe trade and descriptions
of the Santa Fe trail” – Wagner-Camp.
The author, it has been suggested, was a tramp printer sent west by
a Pennsylvania newspaper. The
map illustrates the Kansas area. Scribner’s paid $80 for the Streeter copy. 121. Gregg,
Josiah: COMMERCE OF THE PRAIRIES: OR THE JOURNAL OF A SANTA FE TRADER
DURING EIGHT EXPEDITIONS ACROSS THE GREAT WESTERN PRAIRIES, AND A
RESIDENCE OF NEARLY NINE YEARS IN NORTHERN MEXICO. New York. 1844. Two
volumes. 320; 318pp. plus two maps (one folding) and six plates. 12mo.
Original publisher’s cloth stamped in gilt and blind. Bindings
moderately worn and soiled. 19th-century library bookplate on front
pastedown. Clean tear in folding map repaired on verso. Scattered moderate
soiling, light dampstaining, light scattered foxing. Front gatherings of
first volume beginning to spring. Overall, a very good copy. In a half
leather clamshell box, spine gilt. First
edition, first issue. One of
the landmark books of Western Americana, Gregg’s book is acclaimed by
all sources as the principal contemporary authority on the Santa Fe Trail
and trade, the Indians of the south plains, and New Mexico in the Mexican
period. J. Frank Dobie calls
it “one of the classics of bedrock Americana.”
It gives a lively, intimate, and personal account of experiences on
the prairies and in northern Mexico. The
map, called a “cartographical landmark” by Wheat, is among the most
important of the early Southwest. The Streeter set sold to Goodspeed’s for $190. 122. [Halkett,
John]: PRÉCIS TOUCHANT LA COLONIE DU LORD SELKIRK, SUR LA RIVIÈRE ROUGE,
SA DESTRUCTION EN 1815 ET 1816, ET LE MASSACRE DU GOUVERNEUR SEMPLE ET DE
SON PARTI. Montreal. 1818. [3]-viii,234,[2],lxxxvii pp. Three-quarter
antique calf and marbled boards. Contemporary ownership signature on
titlepage, else very good. The
rare French translation of the second edition of Halkett’s statement,
after the first London edition of the previous year.
Describes the history of Selkirk’s settlement on Red River and
its differences with the North West Company.
A landmark work of Canadiana. The Streeter copy sold to Maggs for $125. One of the Great Black Tulips 123. [Hall,
Linville J., and George G. Webster]: JOURNAL OF THE HARTFORD UNION MINING
AND TRADING COMPANY. CONTAINING THE NAME, RESIDENCE AND OCCUPATION OF EACH
MEMBER, WITH INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE, &c. &c. Printed by J.L.
Hall on board the Henry Lee, 1849. 88pp., with pp.9-20 provided in
facsimile. The gathering containing pp.41-44 is included twice herein.
Small octavo. Gathered signatures. Several text leaves with expert tissue
repairs at the extremities, but not affecting any text. Pencil
corrections, notes, and emendations in the author’s hand. A very good
copy. In a cloth chemise and half morocco and cloth slipcase, spine gilt.
With the bookplate of Mary Young Moore (nee Mary C. Young) on the
pastedown of the chemise. A
remarkable rarity of Western Americana and the gold rush, printed by
Linville Hall on board the Henry Lee as it made the voyage around the Horn
and to the California gold fields in the spring and summer of 1849.
It is the first sea journal of the ’49 California Argonauts to be
published, and the first printed narrative of a gold seeker, and recounts
the voyage in quite vivid style. This
copy appears to have been Linville Hall’s own copy, and contains pencil
manuscript corrections in his hand on forty-three pages, reflecting
changes between the text in this 1849 edition and the 1898 second edition,
which was also printed by Hall. “It
is not only a very interesting account of the organization and voyage of a
company that sailed to California in its own ship, but it is one of the
first books printed in part at San Francisco” – Streeter sale.
“The first printed narrative of a California gold-seeker and the
best record of an argonaut expedition by sea” – Howes.
“Ranks as one of the most celebrated and interesting of all Gold
Rush narratives” – Kurutz. This copy was sold to Mary Young Moore by the Hudson Book Company (later
Edward Eberstadt & Sons) in 1924, which commissioned the facsimile
copies of pages 9 to 20 from the copy at the Bancroft Library.
In a typed note included here, they assert that this was Linville
Hall’s copy, acquired from his descendants.
Warren Howell, in the catalogue description of this copy in John
Howell – Books Anniversary Catalogue of 1982, casts doubt on the
likelihood of this, and his assertions have been joined by those of other
booksellers. We believe, however, based on internal evidence, that this was in fact
Linville Hall’s own copy, used by him in creating the second edition of
the book in the 1890s. It
seems fairly clear that the numerous pencil notes in the text do not
simply reflect a later owner’s attempts to make this text conform to
that of the 1898 edition. Rather,
the marks (on forty-three of this copy’s seventy-six original text
pages) seem to clearly be editorial in nature, changing punctuation and
offering suggestions for additional text that did or did not make it into
the 1898 edition. For example,
a paragraph on page 22 of this copy has a long pencil mark beside it; in
the second edition the text of this paragraph has been expanded to
comprise three paragraphs. On
page 49 of this copy, the phrase “which is especially uppermost”
appears in pencil in the margin – it appears in print in the text in the
appropriate place in the 1898 edition.
Similar occurrences are found on pages 52, 53, and 63, as well as
several other places. In a
number of instances on pages 58 and 59, editorial markings appear (e.g.
crossing out dashes in favor of semicolons in the 1898 edition), which it
seems clear would be made by someone preparing a new edition, but beyond
the efforts or interests of an assiduous later owner of this copy seeking
to rectify the text with the 1898 edition.
In other places words, notes, or marks are penciled in which do not
appear in the 1898 edition. For
example, on page 84 of our copy, the words “insert here” appear in
pencil in the margin, yet no additional text is present in the 1898
edition. Again, it would seem
that this is the work of a revising editor – Linville Hall himself –
rather than that of a later owner. Someone,
in other words, who was making notes for a revised edition, and then used
some but not all of his penciled notes in the later edition when he
actually printed it. Linville J. Hall, identified in the company roster at the beginning of
the text as “John L. Hall,” was trained as a printer, as were two
other members of the Hartford Union Mining and Trading Company.
The journal that Hall printed was kept mainly by George G. Webster,
a Hartford lawyer, and was supplemented by contributions from the ship’s
captain, David P. Vail, by Hall himself, and by others on board.
Hall printed the journal on a press kept in his quarters.
He recounted the difficulties of such an endeavor in his
introduction to the 1898 edition of this work: "A
dim light filtered through the thick glass mortised in the planks of the
deck. It was with difficulty
that I was enabled to see sufficiently well to work, but before the voyage
was ended – seven months, ten days – I was so inured to semi-obscurity
that it inconvenienced me but little.
I had to resort to all manner of make-shifts in fitting up my
quarters. I was obliged to
construct my own press, and for originality, it could hardly be surpassed.
Two other printers were on board, and one of them was considerate
enough to help me out for a portion of one day; with the exception of
this, the entire work of printing the journal devolved on me.
I was so interested in my self-imposed task that I gave little
attention to my surroundings. When
the weather was unusually stormy I was obliged to abandon my case.
However the work was not devoid of novel and exciting incidents;
for instance, when the ship rocked or careened from the heavy swell, or
during the progress of a heavy blow, the type in my composing stick would
be scattered in all directions; at other times, my galleys half filled
with set up matter, would go dancing across the room to the accompaniment
of flying type. There
exists a thirty-two-page copy of this journal, inscribed by Hall to E.A.
Upton, a fellow printer who went on to become a San Francisco resident
(see Vail). These first
thirty-two pages are complete in and of themselves, ending with the
journal entry of April 17, 1849. Hall
apparently sent another copy of this thirty-two-page section to the Hartford
Courant, likely giving the printed text to an eastbound ship in Rio de
Janeiro. The ...Courant
began publication of portions of the
text on June 2, 1849. This
first thirty-two-page portion would seem, then, to constitute the “first
issue” of this text. In his
anniversary catalogue of 1982, Warren Howell of John Howell – Books
listed what can be called the “second issue.”
It is the copy owned by Thomas W. Streeter, previously owned by
Penuel McClure, a member of the Hartford Union Mining and Trading Company.
That copy has the word “Incidences” rather than “Incidents”
on the titlepage, as well as slightly different titlepage typography.
The present copy constitutes the “third issue” of the first
edition, with the titlepage corrected and reset, and slight changes to the
text of the first eight pages. Most
bibliographers agree that the titlepage, first eight pages, and final few
pages of text were printed by Hall on board ship in San Francisco harbor
in September 1849. The journal itself contains a list of the officers and members of the
Hartford Company, and describes the daily activities on board ship and in
port from the time of its departure from New York on Feb. 17 until it
arrived in San Francisco harbor on Sept. 13, 1849.
The final three pages of text include a description of San
Francisco as seen from aboard the ship. We are able to locate only eleven copies of any 1849 printing, in any
issue, of this Journal...: the California State Library; the
Society of California Pioneers; the Huntington Library; the Bancroft
Library; Yale; the American Antiquarian Society; the New-York Historical
Society; the Connecticut Historical Society; the Streeter copy (bought by
Warren Howell and listed as item 51 in his Anniversary Catalogue,
now in a private collection); a copy of the thirty-two-page issue,
formerly owned by Dan Volkmann, now in a private collection; and the
present copy (listed by Howell as item 52 in his Anniversary Catalogue).
It is incredibly rare on the market.
The present copy, being the personal copy and bearing the
manuscript corrections of the printer whose tireless efforts made this
special volume possible, constitutes a peerless association copy of the
first order. The Streeter copy, complete but without the author’s notes described in
our copy, sold to Howell for $2600 on behalf of a private collector, who
still owns it. 124. [Hall,
Linville J.]: AROUND THE HORN IN ’49. JOURNAL OF THE HARTFORD UNION
MINING AND TRADING COMPANY. [Wethersfield, Ct. 1898]. [12],252pp.
including plates. Illus. Portrait. Original gilt cloth. Spine rubbed, some
wear to extremities. Else very good. A
presentation copy, inscribed by the author: “C. Irish, Presented by Rev.
L.J. Hall, Waltham Mass Aug. 9th/99.”
Actually written by George Webster but printed by Hall, this
journal was produced during the voyage of the Henry Lee around the Horn in
1849. Hall later returned to
Connecticut, where he became the chaplain at the State Prison at
Wethersfield. There, fifty
years later, he reprinted his narrative in a small edition, of which the
present copy is an example. “In
addition to the journal text [of the 1898 edition], Hall wrote an
introduction with an account of the printing of the original book, and an
appendix entitled ‘Among the Mines and Miners in ’49 and ’50.’
This appendix provides one of the best recollections of life in the
mines” – Kurutz. Howell paid $40 for the Streeter copy. 125. Harmon,
Daniel W.: A JOURNAL OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOUR OF NORTH
AMERICA, BETWEEN THE 47th AND 58th DEGREES OF NORTH LATITUDE, EXTENDING
FROM MONTREAL NEARLY TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 5,000
MILES, INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRINCIPAL OCCURRENCES DURING A
RESIDENCE OF NINETEEN YEARS, IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY....
Andover. 1820. 432pp. plus folding map. Portrait. Half title. Contemporary
calf, gilt morocco label. Binding worn and rubbed, hinges cracked. Foxing,
some light staining. A good plus copy. Without the errata slip. The
first edition of this interesting work, edited for publication by Daniel
Haskell (who surreptitiously inserted some religious maunderings not found
in the author’s manuscript). Harmon
joined the North West Company in 1780 and travelled to Lake Winnipeg and
the Assinniboine, where he stayed some seven years.
His later travels took him to Fort William, New Caledonia, Fort
Vermillion, Fort Chipewyan, etc. Contains
vocabularies of the Crees and Tacullies.
The map, engraved by Annin & Smith of Boston, shows the
northern United States and Canada to the Pacific Ocean in some detail.
“An important book” (Howes), containing valuable firsthand
information on the early fur trade. The Streeter copy realized $225. The First Publication 126. [Harmony
Society]: THOUGHTS ON THE DESTINY OF MAN, PARTICULARLY WITH REFERENCE TO
THE PRESENT TIMES; BY THE HARMONY SOCIETY IN INDIANA. [Harmony, In.].
1824. [2],96pp. Original blue paper wrappers. Covers soiled and stained,
front cover torn, spine lacking. Dampstaining throughout. Edge of pp.51-52
(one leaf) torn with no loss of text. A near good copy. In a half morocco
box. With
the exception of a leaflet of songs, this pamphlet was the first
publication of the Harmony Society after establishing its utopian colony
at Harmony (later New Harmony), Indiana.
Authorship is generally attributed to the Society’s leader,
George Rapp. A German edition
appeared the same year. “The
English equivalent of the German text ends with line six on page 89.
The remaining seven pages of this title were probably composed by
the translator. Manuscripts in
the Society archives reveal that printing of this title was not completed
until 1825 and the title page was printed for the Society by Eichbaum and
Johnston of Pittsburgh” – Byrd & Peckham.
Howes bungles his entry for this item, giving the title of the
German edition (incorrectly) and the collation of the English (also
incorrectly). He accords it a
“b” rating. An important American utopian statement from the press of one of the most
famous American utopian communities. The Streeter copy sold for $225. The Thomas Streeter Copy 127. Harris,
William Tell: REMARKS MADE DURING A TOUR THROUGH THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, IN THE YEARS 1817, 1818, AND 1819. IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO
FRIENDS IN ENGLAND. London. 1821. 196pp. 12mo. Original half cloth and
paper boards, printed paper label, expertly recased. Boards rubbed and
edgeworn. Aside from a few light fox marks, the text is clean and in very
good condition, untrimmed. The
Thomas W. Streeter copy, with his bookplate on the front pastedown and
pencil notes on the front free endpaper.
Second revised and enlarged edition, rarer than the Liverpool
edition of 1819, this being a substantially longer account than the first.
An extensive and favorable travel account by an Englishman who
journeyed from New York through the South and Midwest.
Harris travelled through Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia, and
then to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
The chapter on Ohio has details of Steubenville, Marietta,
Gallipolis, Cincinnati, Zanesville, and Shakertown.
While in Indiana, Harris spent time at the Utopian community at
Harmony. Harris disapproved of
slavery but admired the United States generally.
“Unlike Welby and other English trippers of the period, he liked
us” – Streeter sale. This same copy sold for $140 at the Streeter sale. 128. Hastings,
Sally: POEMS, ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS. TO WHICH IS ADDED A DESCRIPTIVE
ACCOUNT OF A FAMILY TOUR TO THE WEST; IN THE YEAR, 1800.... Lancaster.
1808. 220pp. Contemporary mottled calf, red leather label. Occasional fox
marks, else a very good, tight copy. After
the section of poetry, Hastings has included a day-by-day account of a
journey from Lancaster over the Alleghenies to Washington, Pennsylvania in
October 1800. There is an
account of the Ohio River at Pittsburgh and interesting commentary on the
western frontier at the turn of the century.
Early American poetry and an early account of a female’s overland
travel. The Streeter copy went for $120. 129. [Hawaiian
Hymnal]: [Bingham, Hiram]: O KE KUMU LEOMELE, NO NA HIMENI A ME NA HALELU
E HOOLEA AKU AL I KE AKUA. [bound with:] NA HIMENI HAWAII, ME NA
LEOMELE; OIA KA LUA O NA HAPA O KE KUMU LEOMELE. Oahu: Na Na Misionari,
1834-1837. 360pp. Separate titlepage on p.57, with continuous pagination.
12mo. Contemporary three-quarter roan and marbled paper boards. Boards
rather rubbed, but still firmly bound. Institutional ink stamp on front
pastedown. Some scattered light foxing. Still, a very good copy. In a half
morocco box. A
presentation copy from one Hawaiian missionary to another, inscribed on
the front free endpaper: “Dr. J. Kittridge from his brother E.W.
Clark.” Clark, a missionary
active on Maui, helped run the Hawaiian College at Lahainaluna, the site
of the first instructional printing press in the islands, and the first
press on Maui. Clark was also
the author of a tract on marriage, printed on Oahu in 1833. This is the first work printed in Hawaii that includes musical scoring.
A rare Hawaiian hymnal and manual.
The first part is comprised of a musical and singing instructional
manual, while the final three hundred pages are a hymnal, including some
194 religious hymns in Hawaiian. The
first part translates: “The rules of music for hymns and psalms to
praise God.” The second part
translates: “Hawaiian hymns with their music; the second part of the
rules of music.” Hiram
Bingham (1789-1869), who produced this work, was a Congregational
missionary in Hawaii from 1820 to 1841.
In 1825 he began his translation of the New Testament, and by 1839
he and his associates had translated the entire Bible.
“Although dated 1834 this book was so difficult to produce at the
Mission Press that it was not completed until three years later.
Present day Hawaiian music is based in part on the music taught by
the missionaries so this is a particularly interesting example of early
printing in the Islands” – Streeter. Howell bought the Streeter copy for $375, and in the Howell dispersal
sale in 1985 it sold for $550. |
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Papers
on Book Collecting by William S. Reese
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Questions or comments?Write us at amorder@reeseco.com |
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