![[SMITH, Daniel (1748-1818)]. A Short Description of the Tennassee Government, or the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio, to Accompany and Explain a Map of that Country. Philadelphia: Mathew Carey, 1793.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2005/NYR/2005_NYR_01614_0131_000(102407).jpg?w=1)
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[SMITH, Daniel (1748-1818)]. A Short Description of the Tennassee Government, or the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio, to Accompany and Explain a Map of that Country. Philadelphia: Mathew Carey, 1793.
8o in 4s (199 x 117 mm). 20 pages. Engraved folding map of Tennessee (362 x 535 mm) after Smith by J.T. Scott (fold separation mended on verso, small reinforcement on verso at sheet edge). Modern black morocco-backed boards.
FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK ON TENNESSEE. Though the map is mentioned on the title-page, it was not in fact published with the book. A "Map of the Tennassee Government formerly Part of North Carolina taken chiefly from Surveys by Gen. D. Smith" was included with Carey's 1794-1795 edition of William Guthrie's New System of Modern Geography, and the copy here is found with the slightly later map headed "Engraved for Careys American Edition of Guthrie's geography improved" as in the Siebert copy and others. Smith's text describes the rivers, soil, climate, and conditions of the area, concluding: "Is it at all surprising, that a country, so different in its structure, its appearance, and essential qualities, should produce more plentiful crops, or that it should engage a considerable degree of public attention?"
The work is VERY RARE. Streeter did not have a copy, and the Siebert copy was the first to appear at auction since the Littell sale of 1945. Allen Tennesseana 980; Allen Tennessee Rarities 4; Evans 26168; Graff 3389; Howes S-587; Sabin 82420; Vail 955.
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FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK ON TENNESSEE. Though the map is mentioned on the title-page, it was not in fact published with the book. A "Map of the Tennassee Government formerly Part of North Carolina taken chiefly from Surveys by Gen. D. Smith" was included with Carey's 1794-1795 edition of William Guthrie's New System of Modern Geography, and the copy here is found with the slightly later map headed "Engraved for Careys American Edition of Guthrie's geography improved" as in the Siebert copy and others. Smith's text describes the rivers, soil, climate, and conditions of the area, concluding: "Is it at all surprising, that a country, so different in its structure, its appearance, and essential qualities, should produce more plentiful crops, or that it should engage a considerable degree of public attention?"
The work is VERY RARE. Streeter did not have a copy, and the Siebert copy was the first to appear at auction since the Littell sale of 1945. Allen Tennesseana 980; Allen Tennessee Rarities 4; Evans 26168; Graff 3389; Howes S-587; Sabin 82420; Vail 955.