EDES & GILL'S NORTH-AMERICAN ALMANACK, AND MASSACHUSETTS REGISTER, FOR THE YEAR 1770

[Revere, Paul]

Verlag: Printed (upon Paper Manufactured in this Country) and Sold by Edes & Gill, Boston, 1770

[60]pp., including full-page engraving. 12mo. Contemporary marbled wrappers, stitched. Wrappers rubbed, some wear at corners and edges, stitching broken. Slightly tanned, but largely free of foxing and staining. Contemporary manuscript notes on rear free endpaper. The view of Boston is particularly clean and nice. Overall, very good, in unsophisticated condition. In a cloth chemise and half morocco and cloth slipcase, spine gilt. An important pre-Revolutionary almanac, featuring a landmark view of Boston by Paul Revere, protests against British military actions in Massachusetts, condemnation of local merchants still dealing in British goods, and the text of several patriotic songs. This copy is complete, and in very attractive, original condition. This Edes & Gill almanac has as its frontispiece the first of three engraved views of Boston done by Paul Revere. The handsome view, entitled "A Prospective View of the Town of Boston.," depicts the city on October 1, 1768, when British troops landed to control rebellious sentiment. The wharves, churches, and other large public buildings are shown in some detail. Eight ships are visible in the harbor, all of which are named in the bottom margin of the view, and troops can be seen disembarking from small boats at Long Wharf. The engraving is signed "P. Revere" in the center of the lower border. This is the only metal cut signed by Revere, who was a silversmith by trade. While Brigham, with some authority, is able to ascribe other cuts to him on the basis of style, this is the only signed one. The text contains important political notices relating to impending rebellion, including a list of merchants "who audaciously continue to counteract the United Sentiments of the Body of Merchants thro'out North-America; by importing British Goods contrary to the Agreement." Other addresses call on Americans to defend their liberties, and to forego foreign teas, the duties on which are a chief source of revenue for the British crown. Also printed herein are three patriotic songs, including "A New Song, Compos'd by a Son of Liberty, and Sung by Mr. Flagg at Concert-Hall, Boston, February 13, 1770"; "A New Song, Now Much in Vogue in North-America"; and "The Parody Parodiz'd, or the Massachusetts Liberty Song." All three appeal to American patriots to fight for their liberty and freedom, and to live "not as slaves, but as freemen." The contemporary manuscript notes on the rear endpaper, written in a mixture of French and English, suggest that this almanac belonged to either Sarah Dolbeare Gray, or perhaps her younger brother Johnathan, members of the wealthy Dolbeare family of Massachusetts. The notes record the date of her marriage to Ellis Gray, another Boston merchant, on "Friday night the 19th of October 1770, her age 24 years, 6 months, and seven days," apparently on the day of a violent rainstorm. A slightly later note in the same hand records that Ellis Gray died on the 9th of July in 1781, and Sarah Gray was therefore widowed the same day. One of Sarah and Ellis's children, Hannah Gray, would go on to marry founding father and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson. Evans mistakenly attributes 1769 as the year of publication of this almanac, but a contemporary announcement cited by Brigham establishes a publication date of February 22, 1770. Thus this work was issued just before the famous Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770. In April 1770, Revere issued a much larger scale view of Boston, showing the port with British troops landing. This larger print has sold for well into six figures. This almanac is quite uncommon, and when it does appear on the market, it is usually imperfect. The present copy is the only complete copy handled by this firm, sold to a private collector more than twenty years ago and recently reacquired. Another copy, with damage to the Revere view and lacking the leaf containing two "Liberty Songs" has appeared at auction twice recently, selling for as much as $15,075. The prese. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers WRCAM57433

Bibliografische Details

Titel: EDES & GILL'S NORTH-AMERICAN ALMANACK, AND ...
Verlag: Printed (upon Paper Manufactured in this Country) and Sold by Edes & Gill, Boston
Erscheinungsdatum: 1770