A SUMMARY, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL, OF THE FIRST PLANTING, PROGRESSIVE IMPROVEMENTS, AND PRESENT STATE OF THE BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH-AMERICA.

Douglass, William

Verlag: Boston, 1753

Two volumes. [2],[vi],568; [4],416pp. 19th- century three-quarter pebbled calf over marbled boards, spines gilt. Calf slightly worn. A few gatherings age-toned. A very good set. Each volume housed in a slipcase. With the reissue of the second volume (the original issue was dated 1751). "First American history of the whole country" - Howes. Douglass was a Scottish physician living in Boston. Although not a work noted for its accuracy, Wroth comments, "Modern critics of the SUMMARY have overlooked the fact that its author was the first to attempt this story from the viewpoint of a resident American." and further quotes a contemporary critic in the MONTHLY REVIEW as finding it "a fuller and more circumstantial account of North-America, than is any where else to be met with." In his PRESENT STATE OF NORTH AMERICA (London, 1755) John Huske wrote: "There is not one Work yet published to the World in our Language that in any Degree deserves the Title of a History of North America, but Smith's HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, and Douglass's SUMMARY.And this last is only valuable for being the best Collection of facts in general, for a future Historian, that was ever made or published." The completion and publication of the work was interrupted by Douglass' death during the outbreak of the smallpox epidemic of 1752. A work of major importance in the writing of American history. HOWES D436, "b." CLARK I:226. WROTH, AMERICAN BOOKSHELF, pp.87-91. SABIN 20726. EVANS 6307. REESE & OSBORN, STRUGGLE FOR NORTH AMERICA 11. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers WRCAM25816

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Titel: A SUMMARY, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL, OF THE ...
Verlag: Boston
Erscheinungsdatum: 1753