AN HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHICAL, COMMERCIAL, AND PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW OF THE AMERICAN UNITED STATES, and of the European Settlements in America and the West-Indies

4 volumes. Very scarce first edition of this early and very extensive work on America. A copy with fine provenance, once owned by Amos Tuck French, relation to the Astor and Vanderbilt families and a successful American businessman and banker and investor. He was related to Amos Tuck of NH, a member of Congress and the man for whom the Tuck School at Dartmouth College is named. With four engraved portrait frontispieces of Washington, Franklin, Penn and the author; seven large multi-folding maps; four folding letterpress tables including three double-sided folding tables relating to sugar production and a folding table of distances, and 21 additional plates including a hand-coloured plate of the tobacco plant and 20 plates of unique American scenery, animals, birds, city plans and more. Small 4to, in later antique three quarter calf over marbled boards, the spines with raised bands double gilt ruled, each with a volume number in one compartment and a red morocco label ruled and lettered in gilt in another. viii, 591; 493; 525; 415, 54, [17] pp. A very handsome set of this scarce and important work, the text especially well preserved with only a little mellowing, the folding maps all complete with no loss, any stress at the folds or mounting is minor and closed, a few spots strengthened from behind, the plates all fine, the tobacco plate with excellent colour.

Edizione: an extensive and very early work on america, including the united states, mexico, canada, south america and the west indies. it was written while the author was in prison for views expressed in sermons. winterbotham gives us extensive information on the new nation in north america and its neighbors who were then still under european control. it includes considerable information on sugar and tobacco production. many fine engraved plates are included. some feature american birds and animals, such as alligators, bison and various wild cats and monkeys. others include views, such as minnesota's st. anthony falls. the large folding maps are of north america, south america, the west indies, the new england states, mid-atlantic states, southern states, and kentucky.<br> this is an early copy printed without directions to the binder included. it has, as sabin notes in his formidable bibliography, over 30 maps views and other plates.