(Revere, Paul)

The Royal American Magazine, or Universal Repository of Instruction and Amusement. Volume I. for the Year 1774. Boston: Printed at Greenleaf's Printing Office in Union Street, January–December 1774

8vo (8 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.; 205 x 130 mm).  18 (of 19) engravings (14 by Paul Revere); lacks preliminary leaf (pp. 3–4 of January issue), pp. 59–62 (February), pp. 315–316 (August), "Indian Gazette" plate by Callender, two-thirds of the folding plate "View of the Town of Boston" by Revere torn away, moderate to severe browning throughout, long tear in gutter on p. 63 cutting into text, a few holes costing page numbers. Contemporary calf. spine in six compartments, lettering piece; rebacked, losses to spine and lettering piece.  Half tan morocco folding-case.

Breck Parkman (signature on front flyleaf dated 1777). Acquisition:  William Reese

Brigham, Paul Revere's Engravings, pp.79–92; Evans 13590; Stauffer, American Engravers 293, 296 (Callender); 2665, 2667–68, 2672–73; 2678, 2683, 2687, 2688, 2697 (Revere)

8vo (8 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.; 205 x 130 mm). 18 (of 19) engravings (14 by Paul Revere); lacks preliminary leaf (pp. 3–4 of January issue), pp. 59–62 (February), pp. 315–316 (August), "Indian Gazette" plate by Callender, two-thirds of the folding plate " View of the Town of Boston" by Revere torn away, moderate to severe browning throughout, long tear in gutter on p. 63 cutting into text, a few holes costing page numbers. contemporary calf. spine in six compartments, lettering piece; rebacked, losses to spine and lettering piece. Brown cloth folding case, tan morocco spine.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

An entire year's run for 1774 of this extraordinary anti-British magazine issued just before the outbreak of the Revolution. The first six numbers were published by the famous patriot-printer Isaiah Thomas. Thomas conceived the idea of the magaine in the summer of 1773. The magazine is peppered with strong anti-British sentiments, including attacks on the Boston Port Bill and British occupation of Boston. Thomas's inflammatory articles caused him to flee Boston for Worcester, and he turned the responsibility of publishing the magazine over to Joseph Greenleaf, who continued it until its end. The 1774 volume is especially notable for the inclusion of fourteen engravings by Paul Revere, all of which are present. Revere's plates include portraits of John Hancock and Samuel Adams.  Two of the savage political cartoons ("The Able Doctor" and "The Mitered Minuet") were copied from the pro-American Hibernian Magazine, published in Dublin in 1774. Brigham's work on Revere's engravings discusses all the plates in detail, including their sources and what Revere was paid to do them. This volume also has the distinction of having belonged to Minuteman Breck Parkman, who was the great-uncle of the historian Francis Parkman.

Complete or near complete sets of the magazine are of the utmost rarity. A complete set sold in the second Brinley sale in 1880. Another set was offered in 1955 by Midland Rare Books but lacked half the Boston plate and two others. Goodspeed's offered a similar set in 1935. A set, in wrappers, assembled by collector Michael Zinman over a period of twenty years is now housed at the Library Company in Philadelphia.