Tag: Americana

February 7, 2010

The first work to give formal expression to the notion of an “English Empire”

PRINTED 1685: COMPLETE WITH BOTH MAPS AND THE PLATES

B[URTON], R[obert]. The English Empire in America: Or a Prospect of His Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies. Namely, Newfoundland New-England New-York Pennsylvania New-Jersey Maryland Virginia Carolina Bermuda’s Barbuda Anguilla Montserrat Dominica St. Vincent Antego Mevis, Or Nevis S. Christophers Barbadoes Jamaica With an account of the Discovery, Situation, Product, and other Excellencies of these Countries. To which is prefixed a Relation of the first Discovery of the New World called America, by the Spaniards. And of the Remarkable Voyages of several English-men to divers places therein. London: Printed for Nath. Crouch, 1685. 12mo., 15cm x 8.5 cm., with publisher’s advertisements on last leaf, engraved frontispiece map depicting Newfoundland to Florida, engraved plates of “the Caribee Islands,” and two showing “Strange Creatures in America” (armadillo’s, alligators, etc.). Map of east coast of North America from Maine to Georgia, with ill. Old Calf boards, heavily worn as depicted, boards broken, flyleaf and t.p. loose but present, some browning and chipping, minor loss to front map as depicted, COMPLETE. Old 1909 Bookseller’s label pasted to inner front board for the 1698 edition for the high price $15.00, and noted as “excessively rare.” Ref: Howes B1034; Sabin 9499.   $5500

This work, by R.B., the pseudonym of Nathaniel Crouch, was the first work to give formal expression to the notion of an “Empire”; understood to be the assertion of dominion over foreign places and people, the introduction of whites and slaves, and the creation and maintenance of settlements as well as trade monopolies. It advanced an economic notion of the American Dominions as being an important economic entity, in the national interest to cherish, nurture, protect, and defend, and therefore did much to raise the importance of the colonies in the English consciousness. [Ref: William Roger Louis, Alaine M. Low, Nicholas P. Canny., The Oxford History of the British Empire]    

The work includes fascinating passages from the Indian Captivity of Quentin Stockwell to the founding of New York. A copy of the the famous map was exhibited by the NYPL in “American Shores”.

posted in: Rare Books

March 8, 2009

AN ORIGINAL FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE OF FRANKLIN’S PERSONAL FAVORITE FROM HIS PRESS

“THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE PRINTING ART IN COLONIAL AMERICA”- a copy in a contemporary binding

[FRANKLIN, Benjamin, printer (1706 -1790)]. CICERO, Marcus Tullius (106-43 B.C.). M.T. Cicero’s Cato Major, or his Discourse of Old-Age: with explanatory notes. Translated by James Logan (1674-1751). Philadelphia: Printed and sold by Benjamin Franklin, 1744. viii, 159 p. ; 21 cm. (4to) Translated & annotated by James Logan. VERY RARE FIRST STATE of two states of gathering D noted by Miller with the word “only” on p. 27, line 5, misspelled “ony.” COMPLETE. Rare in CONTEMPORARY BLIND-STAMPED PENNSYLVANIA BINDING. Slight separation to lower front board, front blank flyleaf detached but present, leaf v/vi with some loss to upper margin not touching text, smaller lower marginal loss to 21, some corner bumping, usual stains and spotting. Overall, a Very Good unrestored and unsophisticated copy. Contemporary ownership inscription of James Alinby, 1751 with sketches of Union Jack and chicken. Early manuscript Pennsylvania promissory note to rear flyleaf for the sum of eight pounds Pennsylvania currency from James Forrest to Robt. Spencer. Other fascinating historical tidbits include an annotation to flyleaf that Benjamin Condy (c. 1735-1798), the famed nautical mathematical instrument maker of Philadelphia “drowned this man [likely, James Alinby]” Most importantly, from the standpoint of publishing historians, is the rare and important annotation of the original price paid in 1751 for the book in colonial currency “3/9” (3 shillings, nine pence). Modern Provenance: The book comes with colorful provenance- photocopies of the newspaper articles describing how it was found for 5 cents and valued at $2000 in 1949!        [$14,000]

“Only once did [Franklin] publish an original, full-sized book at his own expense, James Logan’s translation of Cicero’s Cato Major. He printed it in large type on creamy paper to flatter the Quaker grandee and to show off his own prowess as a printer” (Benjamin Franklin In Search of a Better World, p. 79)
“The Library of Congress calls this “A Masterwork of Printing…Franklin’s personal favorite from his press, is considered to be the finest example of the printing art in colonial America. Furthermore, this work by the Roman philosopher statesman Cicero is the first classic work translated and printed in North America.” [Ref: Library of Congress Exhibit]

Bibliography Ref: Miller, C. William BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S PHILADELPHIAPRINTING, 1728-1766 A DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY American Philosophical Society Philadelphia 1974 4to., cloth, dust jacket. xc, 583 pages.

posted in: Rare Books