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STITH, William (1689-1755). The History of the First Discovery and Settlement of Virginia: Being an Essay towards a General History of this Colony. Williamsburg: William Parks, 1747.
2 parts in one, 8o (204 x 128 mm). Separate title for the Appendix. (Gatherings X and 2C-2D a bit browned.) Modern panelled calf antique.
FIRST EDITION. Church notes that two editions were published in 1747 without priority established. This conforms to his second, with the type reset as he describes and with the characteristic browning in the gatherings he enumerates. There are also variants, as here where page numbers 295-304 are repeated and there are no single rules over the footnotes on pages 21 and 27 of the Appendix.
In 1731 Stith became master of the grammar-school of William & Mary College. He was chaplain of the house of burgesses in 1738, and in 1752 to 1755 rector of Henrico parish and president of William & Mary. Thomas Jefferson wrote of this work that it is "inelegant and often too minute to be tolerable," and De Tocqueville called it "long and diffuse," but it is notable for its accuracy. Stith, who was well connected in the colony, had access to numerous important sources, including the library of William Byrd of Westover. Printing began in Virginia when William Parks established his press at Williamsburg in 1730. This is one of the earliest accessible Virginia imprints, and one of the most interesting. His text discusses slavery, travel, Indians, agriculture, legal issues, etc. in Virginia history up to 1624. All the documents that he used were later destroyed by fire. Berg Williamsburg Imprints 58; Church 963; Evans 6071; Field 1502; Sabin 91860.
2 parts in one, 8
FIRST EDITION. Church notes that two editions were published in 1747 without priority established. This conforms to his second, with the type reset as he describes and with the characteristic browning in the gatherings he enumerates. There are also variants, as here where page numbers 295-304 are repeated and there are no single rules over the footnotes on pages 21 and 27 of the Appendix.
In 1731 Stith became master of the grammar-school of William & Mary College. He was chaplain of the house of burgesses in 1738, and in 1752 to 1755 rector of Henrico parish and president of William & Mary. Thomas Jefferson wrote of this work that it is "inelegant and often too minute to be tolerable," and De Tocqueville called it "long and diffuse," but it is notable for its accuracy. Stith, who was well connected in the colony, had access to numerous important sources, including the library of William Byrd of Westover. Printing began in Virginia when William Parks established his press at Williamsburg in 1730. This is one of the earliest accessible Virginia imprints, and one of the most interesting. His text discusses slavery, travel, Indians, agriculture, legal issues, etc. in Virginia history up to 1624. All the documents that he used were later destroyed by fire. Berg Williamsburg Imprints 58; Church 963; Evans 6071; Field 1502; Sabin 91860.