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Item #40424 The History and Present State of Virginia, in four parts. I. The History of the First Settlement of Virginia, and the Government thereof, to the present Time. II. The Natural Productions and Conveniencies of the Country, suited to Trade and Improvement. III. The Native Indians, their Religion, Laws, and Customs, in War and Peace. IV. The present State of the Country, as to the Polity of the Government, and the Improvements of the Land. By a Native and Inhabitant of the Place. Robert BEVERLEY, c.1673-c.1722.
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The History and Present State of Virginia, in four parts. I. The History of the First Settlement of Virginia, and the Government thereof, to the present Time. II. The Natural Productions and Conveniencies of the Country, suited to Trade and Improvement. III. The Native Indians, their Religion, Laws, and Customs, in War and Peace. IV. The present State of the Country, as to the Polity of the Government, and the Improvements of the Land. By a Native and Inhabitant of the Place.

The History and Present State of Virginia, in four parts. I. The History of the First Settlement of Virginia, and the Government thereof, to the present Time. II. The Natural Productions and Conveniencies of the Country, suited to Trade and Improvement. III. The Native Indians, their Religion, Laws, and Customs, in War and Peace. IV. The present State of the Country, as to the Polity of the Government, and the Improvements of the Land. By a Native and Inhabitant of the Place.

London: Printed for R. Parker, 1705. 4 parts in one volume, octavo. (7 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches). [12], 19, [1], 104; 40; 64; 83, [1]; pp. Errata on verso of final Table of contents leaf. Engraved frontispiece, 14 engraved plates, all by Gribelin after Hariot, 1 folding letterpress table.

Contemporary blind paneled sprinkled calf, spine with raised bands in 6 compartments, 2nd compartment with morocco lettering piece, others with repeat gilt decoration.

The first edition of an important history of Virginia: "After John Smith, the first account of this colony, the first one penned by a native and the best contemporary record of its aboriginal tribes and of the life of its early settlers" (Howes).

Beverly's history is the earliest written by a Virginian and is one of the most reliable and informative accounts of the early period. Beverly covers all aspects of life in Virginia, including produce both natural and cultivated, early plantations and history up to the time of writing. The finely executed plates are based on the engravings found in the first part of Theodore De Bry's Grand Voyages, i.e. Hariot's important work on Virginia with images based on original drawings by John White. "A valuable first hand account of conditions, written by a self consciously American observer of nature, Indians, political and social life" (Vail).

Arents 456; Church 821; European Americana, 705/21; Field 122 (later edition); Howes B410; Pilling, Algonquian, p. 43; Sabin 5112; Streeter sale 2:1098; Vail 297.

Item #40424

Price: $9,000.00

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