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Books > Americana & Canadiana (326 items)
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 JEFFERYS, Thomas (1719-1771)
The American Atlas: or, a geographical description of the whole continent of America: wherein are delineated at large its several regions, countries, states, and islands; and chiefly the British Colonies
London: Printed and sold by R. Sayer and J. Bennett, 1776. Folio (22 1/4 x 15 3/4 inches). Letterpress title and index leaf, otherwise engraved throughout. 23 engraved maps on 30 sheets (1 single page, 11 double-page, 18 folding), all hand-coloured in outline. (Blank corner of map sheets numbered 18 and 19 restored). Expertly bound to style in half calf over contemporary marbled boards, retaining original backstrip and gilt morocco spine label. .
The most important 18th century atlas for America: a "geographical description of the whole continent of America, as portrayed in the best available maps in the latter half of the eighteenth century ... as a major cartographic reference work it was, very likely, consulted by American, English, and French civilian administrators and military officers during the Revolution" (Ristow).
As a collection, the American Atlas stands as the most comprehensive, detailed and accurate survey of the American colonies at the beginning of the Revolution. Among the distinguished maps are; Braddock Meade's A Map of the Most Inhabited Parts of New England, the largest and most detailed map of New England that had yet been published; a map of The Provinces of New York and New Jersey by Samuel Holland, the Surveyor general for the northern American colonies; William Scull's A Map of Pennsylvania, the first map of that colony to include its western frontier; Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson's A Map of the Most Inhabited part of Virginia, the best colonial map for the Chesapeake region; and Lt. Ross's Course of the Mississipi, the first map of that river based on English sources.
Jefferys was the leading English cartographer of the 18th century. From about 1750, he published a series of maps of the English American colonies, that were among the most significant produced in the period. As Geographer to the Prince of Wales, and after 1761, Geographer to the King, Jefferys was well placed to have access to the best surveys conducted in America, and many of his maps held the status of "official work." Jefferys died on 20th November 1771, and in 1775, his successors, Robert Sayer and John Bennett, gathered these separately-issued maps together and republished them in book form as The American Atlas. The present second edition, issued in 1776, includes A new Map of the Province of Quebec (a significant addition) in place of Jefferys' The Middle British Colonies and a second issue of Samuel Holland's The Provinces of New York and New Jersey, published on 20 December 1775.
The maps are as follows (many of the maps are on several sheets, and in accordance with the letterpress index, each individual sheet is numbered, the measurements refer to the image size):
1-3. Braddock Meade (alias John Green). "A Chart of North and South America, including the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Published 10 June 1775. Six sheets joined into three, 43 1/2 x 49 1/2 inches. Stevens & Tree 4(d). This great wall map was chiefly issued to expose the errors in Delisle and Buache's map of the Pacific Northwest, published in Paris in 1752.
4. Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg. "The Russian Discoveries". Published March 2nd 1775. One sheet, 18 x 24 inches.
5-6. Thomas Pownall after E. Bowen. "A New and Correct map of North America, with the West India Islands . Published 15th February, 1777. Four sheets joined into two, 43 x 47 inches. Stevens & Tree 49(f). Thomas Pownall updated Bowen's "North America" map of 1755. Pownall's version included the relevant results of the first treaty of Paris, drawn up after the end of the French and Indian War.
7. Thomas Jefferys. "North America from the French of Mr. D'Anville, Improved with the English Surveys Made since the Peace". Published 10 June 1775. One sheet, 18 x 20 inches. Stevens & Tree 51(c)
8. Samuel Dunn. "A Map of the British Empire in North America". Published 10 January 1774 . 1/2 sheet, 12 x 19 inches. Stevens & Tree 53(b).
9. Thomas Jefferys. "An Exact Chart of the River St. Laurence from Fort Frontenac to the Island of Anticosti". Published 25 May 1775. Two sheets joined into one, 23 1/2 x 37 inches. Stevens & Tree 76(d).
10. Sayer & Bennett. "A Chart of the Gulf of St. Laurence." Published 25th March 1775. One sheet, 19 1/2 x 24 inches.
11. Capt. [Samuel] Holland. "A Map of the Island of St. John in the Gulf of St. Laurence". Published 6 April 1775. One sheet, 15 x 27 1/4 inches.
12. James Cook & Michael Lane. "A General Chart of the Island of Newfoundland". Published 10th May 1775. One sheet, 21 1/2 x 22 inches. Lieutenant and later Captain James Cook went on to gain renown for his three exploratory voyages in the Pacific.
13. James Cook and others. "A Chart of the Banks of Newfoundland". Published 25 March 1775. One sheet, 19 1/2 x 26 inches. Based on the surveys of James Cook (see above), Chabert and Fleurieu.
14. Thomas Jefferys. "A New Map of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island with the Adjacent Parts of New England and Canada. " Published 15 June 1775. One sheet, 18 1/2 x 24 inches. Stevens & Tree 66(c). Originally published in 1755, at the beginning of the French and Indian War, this map "proved to be important in evaluating respective French and English claims to this part of North America" (Ristow). England gained sole possession of the region by the Treaty of Paris, 1763.
15-16. Braddock Meade (alias John Green.) "A Map of the Most Inhabited Part of New England". Published November 29, 1774. Four sheets joined into two, 38 3/4 x 40 ¾ inches. Stevens & Tree 33(e). The first large-scale map of New England. "The most detailed and informative pre-Revolutionary map of New England ... not really supplanted until the nineteenth century" (New England Prospect, 13).
17. Capt. [Samuel] Holland. "The Provinces of New York and New Jersey, with Part of Pensilvania". Published 20 Decr. 1775. Three insets: A plan of the City of New York, A chart of the Mouth of Hudson's River, and A Plan of Amboy. Two sheets joined, 26 1/2 x 52 ¾ inches. Stevens & Tree 44(d). An important large-scale map of the Provinces of New York and New Jersey, by Samuel Holland, Surveyor General for the Northern English colonies. With fine insets including a street plan of colonial New York City.
18. William Brassier. "A Survey of Lake Champlain, including Lake George, Crown Point and St.John." Published 5 August 1776. Single sheet 26 x 18 3/4 inches. Stevens & Tree 25(b). This is the second state of Brassier's terribly important and magnificently detailed map of Lake Champlain. More usually editions of the present 1776 atlas contain the first state of this map. The Second state is to be preferred as it illustrates the very first battle fought by the U.S. Navy - the Battle of Valcour Island, which took place near present-day Plattsburgh, New York, on October 11, 1776.
19. Captain Carver and others. "A New Map of the Province of Quebec, according to the Royal Proclamation, of the 7th of October 1763. from the French Surveys Connected with those made after the War, by Captain Carver, and Other Officers". One sheet, 19 1/4 x 26 1/4 inches. Stevens & Tree 73(a).
20. William Scull. "A Map of Pennsylvania Exhibiting not only the Improved Parts of the Province but also its Extensive Frontiers". Published 10 June 1775. Two sheets joined, 27 x 51 ˝ inches. The first map of the Province of Pennsylvania to include its western frontier. All earlier maps had focused solely on the settled eastern parts of the colony.
21-22. Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson. "A Map of the Most Inhabited Part of Virginia, containing the Whole Province of Maryland ... 1775". [n.d.] Four sheets joined into two, 32 x 48 inches. Stevens & Tree 87(f). "The basic cartographical document of Virginia in the eighteenth century ... the first to depict accurately the interior regions of Virginia beyond the Tidewater. [It] dominated the cartographical representation of Virginia until the nineteenth century" (Verner.)
23-24. Henry Mouzon. "An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina with their Indian Frontiers". Published May 30, 1775. Four sheets joined into two, 40 x 54 inches. Stevens & Tree 11(a). "The chief type map for [the Carolinas] during the forty or fifty years following its publication. It was used by both British and American forces during the Revolutionary War" (Cumming, 450).
25. Thomas Jefferys. "The Coast of West Florida and Louisiana ... The Peninsula and Gulf of Florida." Published 20 Feby. 1775. Two sheets joined into one, 19 1/2 x 48 inches. Stevens & Tree 26(a). A large-scale map of Florida, based upon the extensive surveys conducted after the region became an English possession following the 1763 Treaty of Paris.
26. Lt. Ross. "Course of the Mississipi.... Taken on an Expedition to the Illinois, in the latter end of the Year 1765". Published 1 June 1775. Two sheet joined into one, 14 x 44 inches. Stevens & Tree 31(b). The first large-scale map of the Mississippi River, and the first based in whole or part upon English surveys.
27. Thomas Jefferys. "The Bay of Honduras". Published 20 February 1775. One sheet, 18 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches.
28-29. J.B.B. D'Anville. "A Map of South America." Published 20 September 1775. Four sheets joined into two, 20 x 46 inches
30. Cruz Cano and others. "A Chart of the Straits of Magellan". Published 1 July 1775. One sheet, 20 1/2 x 27 inches.
Howes J-81; cf. Phillips Atlases 1165 and 1166; Sabin 35953; cf. Streeter Sale I, 72 (1775 edition); cf. Walter Ristow (editor) Thomas Jefferys The American Atlas London 1776, facsimile edition, Amsterdam 1974.
#21866 $155,000.00  
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 JOHNSON, Overton, and William H. WINTER (1819-1879)
Route Across the Rocky Mountains, with a description of Oregon and California: their geographical features, their resources, soil, climate, productions
Lafayette, In.: John B. Semans, printer, 1846. Octavo. 152pp. (Scattered spotting). Original half cloth and plain paper boards (covers rubbed, spine label damaged), cloth chemise, half morocco and cloth slipcase, spine gilt.
A very rare key overland guide, in very good original condition.
One of the earliest and rarest of overland guide books to the Oregon Trail, chronologically the second such guide, preceded only by the Hastings guide of 1845. The authors went overland to Oregon in 1843. Winter went to California the following year, then returned to Indiana, where he arranged to publish this guidebook in time for the 1846 emigrant season. The guide provides a detailed account of the 1843 trip, a long description of Oregon, Winter's route to California, the Bear Flag movement, gold at Santa Barbara, and of northern California. The return route from California is also described, and there is a table of distances in the rear. Winter eventually settled in the Napa-Sonoma area.
This is the issue with corrected text on pages 26 and 36. A rarity, afforded a "d" by Howes, who calls it "one of the greatest of early overland narratives." A key guide and important work of Western Americana.
Cowan I, p.315; Graff 2221; Howes J142, "d."; Sabin 36260; Streeter Sale 3145; Wagner-Camp 122.
#25235$20,000.00
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 KALM, Peter (1717-1779)
Travels into North America; containing Its Natural History, and A circumstantial Account of its Plantations and Agriculture in general, with the Civil, Ecclesiastical, and Commercial State of the Country, The Manners of the Inhabitants, and several curious and Important Remarks on various Subjects
Warrington: Printed by William Eyres, 1770 [vol 1]; London: Printed for the Editor, and sold by T. Lowndes, 1771 [vols 2-3]. 3 volumes, 8vo (8 x 5 inches). Engraved folding map, 6 engraved plates. List of Subscribers in vol. 2. . Publisher's blue paper boards (rebacked with labels renewed).
An exceptional copy of the first edition in English, first issue with the Warrington imprint, of "one of the most important and reliable eighteenth-century accounts of American natural history, social organization and political situation" (Streeter).
Between 1748 and 1749, Peter Kalm, a noted Swedish naturalist and student of Linnaeus, traveled throughout the northeast of America, specifically in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Canada, surveying the countryside, and recording notes on the inhabitants, the fauna, and the flora of the region. Among his companions on a notable trip into the back country of New York was noted American naturalist John Bartram. Returning to his native Stockholm, Kalm there published the first edition of his observations between 1753 and 1761. This first edition in English, translated by John Reinhold Forster, followed.
Kalm's important contributions to the study of American botany make this a fundamental work of early American natural history. Besides the works importance on the natural history of the region, Kalm provides a reliable contemporary account of the Philadelphia area and the Swedish settlements. "Most trustworthy description of Swedish settlements in 18th century Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania" (Howes).
This copy in the original boards and in beautiful condition. The first edition, with the Warrington imprint in volume one, is considerably more scarce than later editions in English.
Howes K5; Sabin 36989; Streeter Sale 823; TPL 214; Taxonomic Literature 3493; The Plant Hunters, pp.277-79; Lande 482
#25465$10,000.00
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 KALM, Peter (1717-1779)
Travels into North America; containing Its Natural History, and A circumstantial Account of its Plantations and Agriculture in general, with the Civil, Ecclesiastical, and Commercial State of the Country, The Manners of the Inhabitants, and several curious and Important Remarks on various Subjects
Warrington: Printed by William Eyres, 1770 [vol 1]; London: Printed for the Editor, and sold by T. Lowndes, 1771 [vols 2-3]. 3 volumes, 8vo (8 x 4 3/4 inches). Engraved folding map, 6 engraved plates. List of Subscribers in vol. 2. (Folding map linen-backed at an early date). Contemporary smooth tan calf, rebacked to style, spines with raised bands in six compartments, red morocco lettering piece in the second.
First edition in English, first issue with the Warrington imprint, of "one of the most important and reliable eighteenth-century accounts of American natural history, social organization and political situation" (Streeter).
Between 1748 and 1749, Peter Kalm, a noted Swedish naturalist and student of Linnaeus, traveled throughout the northeast of America, specifically in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Canada, surveying the countryside, and recording notes on the inhabitants, the fauna, and the flora of the region. Among his companions on a notable trip into the back country of New York was noted American naturalist John Bartram. Returning to his native Stockholm, Kalm there published the first edition of his observations between 1753 and 1761. This first edition in English, translated by John Reinhold Forster, followed.
Kalm's important contributions to the study of American botany make this a fundamental work of early American natural history. Besides the works importance on the natural history of the region, Kalm provides a reliable contemporary account of the Philadelphia area and the Swedish settlements. "Most trustworthy description of Swedish settlements in 18th century Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania" (Howes).
The first edition, with the Warrington imprint in volume one, is considerably more scarce than later editions in English.
Howes K5; Sabin 36989; Streeter Sale 823; TPL 214; Taxonomic Literature 3493; The Plant Hunters, pp.277-79; Lande 482
#26593$6,500.00
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 [KAY, W.P, P.HARRY and E.N.KENDALL, illustrators]
Sketches in New Brunswick, taken principally with the intention of shewing the Nature, and description of the Land in the Tract Purchased by the New Brunswick & Nova Scotia Land-Company, in the year 1833; and of illustrating the operations of the Association during the Years 1834, & 1835
London: Day & Haghe for Ackermann & Co, 1836. Large quarto (14 1/2 x 10 inches). 4pp. letterpress text. Lithographed title, 12 lithographed plates after Kay (6), Harry (4), Kay and Harry (1) and E.N.Kendall (1), printed by Day & Haghe. Original upper wrapper. Each leaf separately window-mounted and tipped onto a backing board, the 16 mounted leaves contained within a single limp cloth portfolio, all within a single green straight-grained morocco-backed cloth box, titled in gilt on spine.
A fascinating and rare work, setting out, in words and fine lithographed views, the details of the founding of a township. The actions and scenes took place in New Brunswick, Canada in 1833 to 1835 but they can be taken to represent similar events in wilderness areas across the sub-continent of North America during the whole period of European settlement.
The work would have been printed in severely limited numbers, and (according to Abbey) almost certainly for private circulation, presumably to the more important members of the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Land-Company. The artists all clearly had some technical training, and when the plates are viewed in conjunction with the text a clear view is presented of the series of events leading to the successful founding of a settlement.
The town of Stanley (named after the Colonial Secretary Lord Stanley) was founded in 1834, the site having been already chosen by the surveying party, which arrived in the area in July 1833. One of the first tasks was the building of a saw-mill, powered by damming the river Nashwaak, this and other work was overseen for the first season by E.N.Kendall (a Royal Naval officer and the artist of plate number 2). The ground was then cleared in preparation for building. By July 1835 houses were being completed, a large acreage of ground cleared, and the area was beginning to look like an established settlement. All this is documented in this work.
The township flourishes today and according to information on its website page "The village is located approximately 50 kilometres north of Fredericton. It is nestled around the hills on the banks of the picturesque Nashwaak River… Stanley was founded to act as a depot of supply and center of social life for the homesteaders in the Upper Nashwaak Valley. The majority came from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England [according to a gazetteer published in 1856 the population had by then risen to 737, but]… all shared in the toil of hacking out an existence in this wilderness"
Abbey Travel 623 (coloured copy); Lande Collection Cat (1965) 2035; Sabin 81551; TPL 1907
#2567$9,750.00
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 KEITH, Sir William (1680-1749)
The history of the British plantations in America. With a chronological account of the most remarkable things, which happen'd to the first adventurers in their several discoveries of that new world. Part I [all published]. Containing The History of Virginia; with remarks on the trade and commerce of that colony
London: Printed at the Expense of the Society for the Encouragement of Learning, by S. Richardson, 1738. Quarto (10 x 8 inches). 2 engraved folding maps, engraved title vignette repeated on verso of the final leaf, ornamental tailpiece. Uncut and largely unopened. Expertly bound to style in half 18th-century russia over contemporary marbled paper-covered boards, spine with raised bands in six compartments, red morocco lettering piece in the second compartment, the others with a repeat decoration in gilt.
First edition of an early English history of Virginia: a tall, uncut copy complete with both maps.
This rare account of the early exploration and settlement of Virginia is all that was published of a planned series of books on the British colonies in America. Although it begins with a brief sketch of the discovery and early exploration of America, the volume is mostly devoted to an account of Virginia, its commercial prospects, Indian tribes inhabiting the country, and tobacco growing there, with the whole of the work stressing the importance of trade between colony and mother country. Keith served as governor of Pennsylvania from 1717 to 1726, having previously been surveyor-general of customs for the southern colonies. He was a satisfactory official for the time that he served, and was well liked by both British officials and the colonists.
The work contains two maps. The first, titled A New and Correct Map of America, shows all of North and South America, with California as an island, with an inset of the Arctic regions (with a note on the search for a Northwest Passage) and an inset vignette showing the Newfoundland cod fisheries. The map, according to the title, is after John Senex, William Moll "and other modern geographers." The other map, titled A New Map of Virginia, depicts Virginia, South Carolina, Maryland and the southern part of New Jersey. Copies of this work complete with both maps are rare.
Alden & Landis 738/129; Church 930; Clayton-Torrence 147; Howes K36; Sabin 37240; Winsor III, p. 165; Arents 930; Cumming 240.
#24711$12,000.00
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KENDALL, George Wilkins (1809-1867) and Carl NEBEL
The War between the United States and Mexico illustrated, embracing pictorial drawings of all the principal conflicts ... with a description of each battle
New York & Philadelphia: Plon Brothers of Paris for D. Appleton & Co. and George S. Appleton, 1851. Folio (21 3/4 x 17 inches). 12 fine hand-coloured lithographic plates, heightened with gum arabic, by Bayot (11) or Bayot & Bichebois (1) after Nebel, printed by Lemercier in Paris, on cards and loose as issued. 1 lithographed map bound into the text. Text: original red cloth-backed glazed paper wrappers, titled on upper wrapper. Plates: unbound as issued. Text and plates within a portfolio of red half morocco incorporating original publisher's red moire cloth-covered boards, with original titling in gilt on the upper cover, cream glazed paper flaps with red morocco hinges. All within a modern red morocco-backed red cloth-covered box, the 'spine' gilt in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second, the others with repeat decoration in gilt.
A first-hand report, in words and pictures, of the first offensive war fought by the United States: the first and only edition, with superb hand-coloured lithographed plates of one of the most important pictorial works relating to the Mexican-American War.
Kendall was America's first great war correspondent, and an ardent proponent of the necessity of America's war with Mexico. When hostilities broke out, he went at once to the Rio Grande where he joined with the Rangers, and later attached himself to the Scott expedition. For this work he keyed his text to the individual plates and the combination affords a detailed illustrated account of each battle.
The plates are the work of the German artist, Carl Nebel, who painted each of the twelve major clashes of the war. Kendall notes in his preface that "Of the twelve illustrations accompanying his work... the greater number were drawn on the spot by the artist. So far as regards the general configuration of the ground, fidelity of the landscape, and correctness of the works and buildings introduced, they may be strictly relied upon. Every reader must be aware of the impossibility, in painting a battle scene, of giving more than one feature or principal incident of the strife. The artist has ever chosen what he deemed the more interesting as well as exciting points of each combat... in the present series of illustrations the greatest care has been taken to avoid inaccuracies."
The authors of Eyewitness to War wrote approvingly that the present work "represents the climax of the confluence of journalism and lithography on the prints of the Mexican war" and that Nebel's images are "the eyewitness prints that must be compared against all others." For the text Kendall drew on "the official reports of the different commanders and their subordinates," but "was present at many of the battles" and "personally examined the ground on which all save that of Buena Vista were fought" (for information on this he relied on a Captain Carleton).
The plates are titled: Battle of Palo-alto; Capture of Monterey; Battle of Buena Vista; Bombardment of Vera-Cruz; Battle of Cerro gordo; Assault of Contreras; Battle of Curubusco; Molino del Rey - attack upon the molino; Molino del Rey - attack upon the casamata; Storming of Chapultepec - Pillow's attack; Storming of Chapultepec - Quitman's attack; Gen. Scott's entrance into Mexico.
It is interesting to note that while the work was published by D. Appleton in New York and Philadelphia, the lithographs were produced in Paris. Both Kendall and Nebel felt that the Paris lithographers alone were qualified to do justice to their images and they both spent some time in Europe overseeing the production of the work, for which Kendall and Nebel shared all the costs.
A contemporary reviewer described the work as follows: "We have never seen anything to equal the artistic skill, perfection of design, marvelous beauty of execution, delicacy of truth of coloring, and lifelike animation of figures ... They present the most exquisite specimens ever exhibited in this country of the art of colored lithography; and we think that great praise ought to be awarded to Mr. Kendall for having secured such brilliant and beautiful and costly illustrations for the faithful record of the victories of the American army" (review in the New Orleans Picayune, 15 July 1850).
Bennett, p. 65; Haferkorn, p. 47; Howes K76; Raines p,132; Sabin 37362; Tyler, Prints of the West, p.78
#24688$32,500.00
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 KENDALL, George Wilkins (1809-1867), and Carl NEBEL
The War between the United States and Mexico illustrated, embracing pictorial drawings of all the principal conflicts ... with a description of each battle
New York & Philadelphia: Plon Brothers of Paris for D. Appleton & Co. and George S. Appleton, 1851. 2 volumes (text: folio [21 3/4 x 16 3/4 inches]; plates: oblong folio [14 1/2 x 21 1/4 inches]). 12 fine hand-coloured lithographic plates, heightened with gum arabic, by Bayot (11) or Bayot & Bichebois (1) after Nebel, printed by Lemercier in Paris, 1 lithographed map. Text: original cloth-backed wrappers; Plates: original dark brown cloth, covers with decorative borders blocked in blind, the upper cover titled in gilt. Housed together in a modern black morocco backed box.
A first-hand report, in words and pictures, of the first offensive war fought by the United States. This is the first and only edition, with superb hand-coloured lithographic plates of one of the most important pictorial works relating to the Mexican-American War
Kendall was America's first great war correspondent, and an ardent proponent of the necessity of America's war with Mexico. When hostilities broke out, he went at once to the Rio Grande where he joined with the Rangers, and later attached himself to the Scott expedition. For this work he keyed his text to the individual plates and the combination affords a detailed illustrated account of each battle.
The plates are the work of the German artist, Carl Nebel, who painted each of the twelve major clashes of the war. Kendall notes in his preface that "Of the twelve illustrations accompanying his work... the greater number were drawn on the spot by the artist. So far as regards the general configuration of the ground, fidelity of the landscape, and correctness of the works and buildings introduced, they may be strictly relied upon. Every reader must be aware of the impossibility, in painting a battle scene, of giving more than one feature or principal incident of the strife. The artist has ever chosen what he deemed the more interesting as well as exciting points of each combat... in the present series of illustrations the greatest care has been taken to avoid inaccuracies."
The authors of Eyewitness to War wrote approvingly that the present work "represents the climax of the confluence of journalism and lithography on the prints of the Mexican war" and that Nebel's images are "the eyewitness prints that must be compared against all others." For the text Kendall drew on "the official reports of the different commanders and their subordinates," but "was present at many of the battles" and "personally examined the ground on which all save that of Buena Vista were fought" (for information on this he relied on a Captain Carleton).
The plates are titled: Battle of Palo-alto; Capture of Monterey; Battle of Buena Vista; Bombardment of Vera-Cruz; Battle of Cerro gordo; Assault of Contreras; Battle of Curubusco; Molino del Rey - attack upon the molino; Molino del Rey - attack upon the casamata; Storming of Chapultepec - Pillow's attack; Storming of Chapultepec - Quitman's attack; Gen. Scott's entrance into Mexico.
It is interesting to note that while the work was published by D. Appleton in New York and Philadelphia, the lithographs were produced in Paris. Both Kendall and Nebel felt that the Paris lithographers alone were qualified to do justice to their images and they both spent some time in Europe overseeing the production of the work, for which Kendall and Nebel shared all the costs.
A contemporary reviewer described the work as follows: "We have never seen anything to equal the artistic skill, perfection of design, marvelous beauty of execution, delicacy of truth of coloring, and lifelike animation of figures ... They present the most exquisite specimens ever exhibited in this country of the art of colored lithography; and we think that great praise ought to be awarded to Mr. Kendall for having secured such brilliant and beautiful and costly illustrations for the faithful record of the victories of the American army" (review in the New Orleans Picayune, 15 July 1850).
Bennett, p. 65; Haferkorn, p. 47; Howes K76; Raines p,132; Sabin 37362; Tyler, Prints of the West, p.78
#23070$32,500.00
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 KENNETT, White (1660-1728, Bishop of Peterborough)
Bibliothecae Americanae Primordia. An Attempt Towards laying the Foundation of an American Library, in several books, papers, and writings, humbly given to the Society for Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ... By a Member of the said Society
Index by the Rev. Robert Watts. London: printed for J. Churchill, 1713. Quarto signed in 2s (8 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches). (Lacking the front blank and blank A1 [i.e. blank leaf between the Dedication and the start of the bibliography], Kk1 and Kk2 cut down without affecting the text area but likely supplied from another copy at an early date, light dampstaining). 19th-century red half morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, the border between the leather and marbled paper ruled in gilt on the covers, spine in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second, the others with repeat decoration in gilt centering on a flower-spray tool, marbled endpapers.
Rare copy of "the earliest exclusively American catalogue" (Church): one of only 250 copies printed.
"White Kennett, Bishop of Peterborough, gave his extensive collection of Americana to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts in 1712, with the intention that the gift should be accompanied by a printed catalogue of the collection. This wish was thwarted for a while by the decision to have Robert Watts compile what became an extensive and essential index of 223pp. Kennett had in the meantime continued his collecting at a pace which necessitated the inclusion of 55-page appendix and the catalogue was finally published in 1713. The result is the best catalogue of books relating to America extant, [arranged in chronological order],the titles being copied at full length with the greatest exactness, together with the name of the printer, and the number of pages in each volume...It is rich in English tracts relating to New England" (Rich).
Pinelo's Epitome de la biblioteca oriental i occidental (1629) includes a listing of books of Indian and Asian as well as American interest, but Kennett's is the first printed catalogue devoted exclusively to books relating to America. An account of the library is given in the Massachusetts Historical Society, Proceedings, vol. 20 (1883). Despite Kennett's stated wish that the books were intended for the "perpetual use" of the members of the Society a number were later given to the British Museum, and some "had been lost or mislaid" by the time Sotheby's prepared the auction catalogue for the sale of the Society's library in 1917.
Church 856; European Americana 713/104; Grolier/Breslauer & Folter 93; JCB II, 178; Sabin 37447; Streeter Sale 4363
#23759$6,000.00
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 KOTZEBUE, Otto von (1787-1846).
Entdeckungs-Reise in die Süd-See und nach der Berings-Strasse zur Erforschung einer nordöstlichen Durchfahrt. Unternommen in den Jahren 1815, 1816, 1817, und 1818.
Weimar: Gebrüder Hoffmann, 1821. 3 volumes in one, quarto (10 5/8 x 8 5/8 inches). 18pp. subscribers list. 6 engraved maps (5 folding), 20 aquatint plates (19 hand-colored, 4 folding) after Ludovik Choris, Eschscholtz and others, 2 folding letterpress tables. Text uncut. Modern paper-backed blue boards. Provenance: Thomas W. Streeter (booklabel, pencil notes; his sale, part VI, Sotheby's Park Bernet, 22 April 1969, lot 3511).
Thomas W. Streeter's copy of the first edition, coloured issue of Kotzebue's important second Russian circumnavigation: a cornerstone work of Pacific exploration with important descriptions of Hawaii, California and Alaska.
Kotzebue's expedition in the ship Rurick, sponsored by Count Romanzoff, sailed from Kronstadt at the end of July 1815, rounded Cape Horn and visited Chile, Easter Island, the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, and the North American coast, making an unsuccessful search for a northwest passage. The return was made via New Archangel, California, Hawaii, Marianas, Philippines, and St. Helena.
This famous narrative is particularly important for its descriptions of Alaska and California (including the first scientific account of the California state flower, the Golden Poppy). Kotzebue describes the missions in California, and the work is considered one of the most important early accounts of that state. The work is of great importance in the early exploration of Alaska. "Rich in early original source material on Alaska ... Kotzebue belonged to that group of outstanding Russian naval officers of the first half of the nineteenth century, which included Kruzenshtern, Golovnin, Lisianskii, Sarychev, and others..." (Lada-Mocarski). "It was on this voyage that Kotzebue discovered Kotzebue Sound in Alaska, thinking for a time as he sailed east that he had found the long sought north-east passage" (Streeter).
The Hawaiian portion is extensive and contains important observations on life and customs during the reign of Kamehameha I, whose famous "red vest" portrait by Choris is one of the illustrations. The account of Albert von Chamisso, the expedition naturalist, includes important information about flora and fauna, as well as the Indians and the work of the missionaries. There is also a comparative vocabulary table for the languages of some of the islanders. As a record of historical import, and as a collection of significant maps and beautiful plates, this work is one of the prime desiderata of Pacific voyages.
Three distinct issues of the first edition were published: eighty-eight copies were produced on very fine "Velin papier" with the plates hand coloured (issue A); an issue on regular handmade laid paper, of which a limited number of copies have coloured plates (issue B); and an issue on laid paper with the portrait plates coloured, but the folding plates in sepia aquatint (issue C). The present copy of the work is a fine example of the second issue with the plates hand coloured.
This fine copy of Kotzebue appeared at auction in part six of the famed sale of the Thomas W. Streeter collection, realizing $550 in 1969.
Borba de Moraes I, 438; Brunet III:693; Forbes I, 525; Hill 943; Howes K-258; Kroepelien 670; Lada-Mocarski 80; Lipperheide La 7; Sabin 38284; Streeter sale VI:3511 (this copy); Cowan p. 334; Zamorano Eighty 48.
#23661$17,500.00
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Copyright © 2002-2011 Donald A. Heald
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