 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WILLIAMSON, Charles
A Description of the Genesee Country: In Which The Situation, Dimensions, Civil Divisions, Soil, Minerals, Produce, Lakes And Rivers...Are Impartially Described.
New York: printed for the author, 1804. 16pp., map. Late 19th-century three quarter red calf and marbled boards, leather label, raised bands. Edges bit worn. Portion of lower fore-edge corner of titlepage missing, but repaired and text not affected. Upper left margin of map with small repaired piece missing, only barely affected printed border. Bit tanned. Overall a good copy.
An interesting and very scarce promotional for the Pulteney Estate in Western New York, issued by the promoters of the region, the English Associates.
The first edition, which is quite rare, appeared in 1798, with a subsequent printing appearing in 1799; Howes records three printings in 1804, of which this is the only printing containing a map. Vail, in his article "A Western New York Land Prospectus" in Bookman's Holiday, analyzes the various printings and calls this the fourth, suggesting that it is much more uncommon than the third because of a decline in the company's activities. These guidebooks were utilized by the prospective settlers, and often discarded after they arrived at their new homes. This particular copy, though containing an appendix at the end with "a description of the Military Lands," does not include a mention of the appendix on the titlepage as in some copies.
Howes W493; Vail 1221 (note).
|
#3079 $500.00 
|
© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
