.jpg?w=1)
Details
SMITH, Samuel (1720-1776). The History of the Colony of Nova-Caesaria, or New-Jersey: Containing, an Account of its First Settlement, Progressive Improvements, the Original and Present Constitution, and other Events, to the Year 1721. With some Particulars Since; and a Short View of its Present State. Burlington: James Parker, 1765.
8o (210 x 125 mm). x, 573, [1] page (errata). (Light foxing as usual, small stain to margin of a few early leaves.) Early nineteenth-century sprinkled sheep, gilt spine with gilt-lettered black morocco label, sprinkled edges (extremities a bit rubbed, but an excellent, tight copy). Provenance: Hiram E. Deats, noted New Jersey collector (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION, PRINTED ON A FRANKLIN PRESS, WITH A LETTER OF THE AUTHOR TIPPED IN. An excellent copy, with great New Jersey provenance, of "[T]he first general history of New Jersey...The author made much use of sources of information which are no longer available, and quotes some interesting letters by the early settlers. [It] is still the main source of information regarding the history of West Jersey" (Church). It is believed that 600 copies were printed by Parker, who relocated from Woodbridge to Burlington expressly to issue this and several other titles, on a printing press owned by Benjamin Franklin and previously used in St. Johns, Antigua by Franklin's nephew, Benjamin Mecom. The press was shipped back to Franklin in February 1766. Church 1053; Felcone 243 (convincingly establishing that there are not two issues, but simply variants of some sheets, without priority); Evans 10166; Howes S-661; Miller Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia Printing 853; Pilling Algonquian p. 474; Sabin 82980 (discussion of variant sheets); Streeter II:923.
[With:] SMITH, Samuel. Autograph letter signed TO THE PRINTER JAMES PARKER, Burlington, 15 March 1775. 1 full page, 4to, integral address leaf, neatly tipped into the book at p.512. Responding to Parker's query about the source of the text of certain New Jersey documents, referring him in one instance to Leaming's and Spicer's 1758 Grants, Concessions and Original Constitutions (see lot 54).
8
FIRST EDITION, PRINTED ON A FRANKLIN PRESS, WITH A LETTER OF THE AUTHOR TIPPED IN. An excellent copy, with great New Jersey provenance, of "[T]he first general history of New Jersey...The author made much use of sources of information which are no longer available, and quotes some interesting letters by the early settlers. [It] is still the main source of information regarding the history of West Jersey" (Church). It is believed that 600 copies were printed by Parker, who relocated from Woodbridge to Burlington expressly to issue this and several other titles, on a printing press owned by Benjamin Franklin and previously used in St. Johns, Antigua by Franklin's nephew, Benjamin Mecom. The press was shipped back to Franklin in February 1766. Church 1053; Felcone 243 (convincingly establishing that there are not two issues, but simply variants of some sheets, without priority); Evans 10166; Howes S-661; Miller Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia Printing 853; Pilling Algonquian p. 474; Sabin 82980 (discussion of variant sheets); Streeter II:923.
[With:] SMITH, Samuel. Autograph letter signed TO THE PRINTER JAMES PARKER, Burlington, 15 March 1775. 1 full page, 4to, integral address leaf, neatly tipped into the book at p.512. Responding to Parker's query about the source of the text of certain New Jersey documents, referring him in one instance to Leaming's and Spicer's 1758 Grants, Concessions and Original Constitutions (see lot 54).