(Williamson, Charles) | Settling upstate New York

(Williamson, Charles)

Description of the Genesee Country, Its Rapidly Progressive Population and Improvements; In a Series of letters from a Gentleman to His Friend. Albany: Loring Andrews & Co., 1798

4to (176 x 146 mm). Engraved folding plate by Gideon Fairman after Simeon De Witt, 2 folding maps of Ontario and Steuben counties by Fairman after Herlop; washed and pressed, early ownership inscription on title-page erased, penciled call number erased, maps silked. Straight-grained green morocco paneled gilt by the Club Bindery and dated 1908, the spine in 6 compartments ruled gilt, marbled endpapers, edges gilt; upper board detached, original upper speckled wrapper bound in, spine faded to brown, joints rubbed and dry, bookplate removed. Morocco-tipped marbled paper slipcase.

First edition, the Beverly Chew-Laird Park copy. The work was written in a series of five letters "by the resident agent of the English Associates (Sir William Pulteney, Governor William Hornby, and Patrick Colquhoun) for the promotion of their Western New York lands, also known as the Pulteney Estate" (Vail).

PROVENANCE

I. T. (early ownership inscription on verso of title-page) — Beverly Chew (morocco label) — Philip S. Chew — New Jersey Historical Society (gifted by previous, 1963, and sale, Sotheby's, 31 October 1984, lot 51) — Laird U. Park, Jr., (Sotheby's New York, 29 November 2000, lot 388)

REFERENCE

Evans 35033; Federal Hundred 74; Howes W493; JCB Library 2:3951; Sabin 104441; Vail, Old Frontier 1182