John Marshall A History of the Colonies planted by the English on the Continent of North America From Their Settlement, to the Commencement of That War Which Terminated in Their Independence

Name: A History of the Colonies planted by the English on the Continent of North America From Their Settlement, to the Commencement of That War Which Terminated in Their Independence
SKU: 4594
Price: 450.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: John Marshall

$450.00

Philadelphia: Abraham Small, 1824. First Edition. Binding: Hardcover (Full Leather). Book Condition: Very Good Condition; Ex-Lib, but with minimal markings. Size: 8″-9″ – Octavo (8vo). 486 pages. First edition, but without rear advertisement leaf. Sabin 44787; Howes M316.

Written by the fourth and arguably most important Supreme Court chief justice. Originally published as Marshall’s Introduction to his Life of George Washington, now issued in its first separate (and corrected) edition. In his Preface Marshall explains the reason for publishing his history of the colonies in a separate volume, in “a form less exceptionable than that which it originally bore” (p. vii): “From the extreme, I may add unpardonable, precipitation with which it was hurried to the press, many errors were overlooked which, on a perusal of the book, were as apparent to the author as to others. He was desirous of correcting these errors, and of making the work more worthy of the public to which it was offered, as well as more satisfactory to himself. For this purpose he . . . has made several alterations in the language ; and has expunged much of the less essential matter with which the narrative was burthened. He dares not flatter himself that he has succeeded completely in his attempt to entitle this work to the approbation of the literary public of America ; but hopes that its claims to that approbation are stronger than in its original form” (p. vii).

Contemporary full tan sheepskin binding with four raised bands and the title and author in gilt on black morocco spine labels. There is gold stamping around all three sides of the front and rear boards (though it is heavily worn on the bottom edges). There is a crease down the middle of the spine from the book being opened and the paper is torn on the front and rear hinges, exposing the cords, but the binding remains tight. Marbled end papers and page edges; the page edges are faded. There is an old bookseller’s label at the top of the front pastedown for Isaac N. Whiting, Bookseller & Stationer, Columbus, Ohio.

The text block is tight. The pages have toned with age. It is an Ex-Lib copy with minimal markings: a library book plate on the front pastedown and a catalog number on the verso of the front free end paper and in the gutter of the first page of the Preface. There is a “For Reference” sticker on the rear pastedown and a small shelf tag at the bottom band of the spine. In addition, someone has checked some of the chapter headings in the Table of Contents and added brief notes (e.g., Good, Very Good) to a few. Howes’ number and a price are written in pencil on an initial blank leaf and there is another brief note in pencil at the top of the copyright page. A previous owner’s last name is written in a contemporary hand on the first blank leaf, which is almost completely separated from the text block, though holding on. Otherwise, the text block itself is unmarked. There is heavy foxing on the verso of the front and rear free end papers and the adjoining blank leaf, front and rear. The text block itself, however, is largely free from any foxing with only an occasional spot.

John Marshall A History of the Colonies planted by the English on the Continent of North America From Their Settlement, to the Commencement of That War Which Terminated in Their Independence

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