Marshall, John | The classic biography of Washington

Marshall, John

The Life of George Washington, commander in chief of the American Forces, during the war which established the independence of his country, and first President of the United States... Philadelphia: C.P. Wayne, 1804 [vols. 1-3] - 1805 [vol. 4] - 1807 [vol. 5 and atlas]

6 volumes. Text: 5 volumes, 8vo (213 x 130 mm); atlas: 1 volume, 4to (286 x 229 mm). Stipple engraved frontispiece portrait, engraved by S. Edwin in Vol. I. Atlas with 10 engraved maps, of which 8 double-page, 1 folding, and one 1 single-page, 22pp. subscriber's list at rear of atlas. Text: Contemporary tree calf, flat spines in six compartments divided by gilt roll tools and decoration, spines gilt-lettered, marbled endpapers; expert repairs to head and tail of spines and some joints. Atlas: Original blue sugar paper covered boards; rebacked to style uniform to the text.

First issue of the text with the first edition quarto atlas — the classic biography of Washington

"After the able, accurate and comprehensive work of Chief Justice Marshall, it would be presumptuous to attempt a historical biography of Washington" (Jared Sparks). Later American editions omitted the history of the colonies, which is the subject of the first volume. The atlas volume contains ten maps relating to the Revolution and 22 pages of subscriber's names.

This set boasts the rare first issue of the text, with 1804 imprints to the first three volumes; a more commonly found second issue was published between 1805 and 1807.

REFERENCE

Howes M317 "aa"; Sabin 44788; Larned 1561