Stith, William | First edition of one of the earliest Virginia imprints

Stith, William

The History of the First Discovery and Settlement of Virginia: Being an Essay towards a General History of this Colony. Williamsburg: William Parks, 1747

8vo (207 x 130 mm). Title-page, woodcut head-pieces, separate title-page for "An Appendix to the First Part of the History of Virginia"; foxing and browning as usual, holes in the last few leaves at the upper corners. Contemporary speckled calf, boards ruled blind, spine with raised bands in 6 compartments, 2nd compartment with leather label originally lettered in gilt; gilt faded, upper joint restored, rubbing and wear with chips to spine.

First edition. Stith's text is the first American history to be written and printed in Virginia, and one of the earliest obtainable Virginia imprints. Stith, who was well connected in the colony, had access to numerous important sources, including the library of William Byrd of Westover, the personal recollections of Sir John Randolph, county court books, the official records of the London Company, and John Smith's seminal history.

The bibliography of this work is complex, with at least two different 1747 Williamsburg editions by Park, and variant issues. The present copy has pages 257 to 303 misnumbered as 247 to 293 and is with lines above footnotes on appendix pages. The pagination error was corrected in the second edition.

REFERENCE

Sabin 91861; Howes S1014; Evans 6071; cf. Berg 58; Church 963; ESTC T146954

PROVENANCE

Alex Spears Esq. of Eldersley (bookplate to pastedown)