[Rarebooks] FS: Washingtoniana

[Bickerstaff's Books, Maps &c.]

Greetings,

For Presidents' Day, we are pleased to offer six items related to the
life and legacy of George Washington.  Please let us know if you have
questions on any of the items.

1.   [Washington Portrait and Poem]    [West, Benjamin.]
Bickerstaff's Boston Almanack, or, Federal Calendar, for 1790.   1789.
Printed by E. Russell, next Liberty Pole...   [Boston.]   20 [of 24]
pp.   Lacks 2 leaves (ninth and twelfth); supplied in Readex facsimile.
Pages loose.  Light staining throughout. [Image at:
http://snipurl.com/4isk ]
Title page features an ornamental cut with portraits of George
Washington and, perhaps, John Adams.  Contents include a "Poem on George
Washington - Composed in 1782 but never before published," as well as a
laudatory essay running across the top of the calendar pages.   Also
included are short descriptions of the states from New Jersey south to
Georgia.  Evans 22268.  Drake 3428.  O'Neal II 228.  Hamilton 1357.
Wick, George Washington, An American Icon: 24.    [Item no. 2581.]
$650.00.

2.   [Washington’s First State of the Union Message]  Carey, Mathew,
publisher.    The American Museum, or Universal Magazine... September,
1790.   1790.  Carey, Stewart, & Co.   Philadelphia.   4, 97-144, 9-16,
33-48, 17-24, [8] pp.   String-tied, never bound.  Most of printed front
wrapper and paper spine are present, though approximately one inch is
lacking at the top of the wrapper and spine, affecting one word.
Remaining spine has chips and tears. Lacks back wrapper and at least one
leaf of advertisements. Dog-eared and raggedness to fore-edge.  [Image
at:  http://snipurl.com/4ism ]
Mathew Carey's American Museum was published from January, 1787 to
December, 1792.  It chronicled the politics, arts and sciences during
the formative years of the new nation.  This is a never-bound single
issue of the magazine with most of the front wrapper intact. (Individual
issues are most often found disbound from multi-issue volumes.)  This
issue contains two very significant pieces from the early Federal
period: Jefferson's report on currency, weights and measures and
Washington's first State of the Union address.  Both pieces were
published within months of their initial appearance -- Jefferson's
report was dated July 29, 1790 and Washington's address January 8,
1790.  Four separate impressions of Jefferson's report appeared in 1790;
when available in the trade (which is infrequent), they command many
thousands of dollars. In addition to the significant Jefferson and
Washington content, a four-page advertisement at the front of the issue
is devoted to an "Address to the Subscribers for the Doway Translation
of the Vulgate Bible" ("It at length draws to a conclusion -- and will
positively be published on the 12th day of November.") and a letter from
Carey, Stewart, and Co. "To the Protestants of the United States."
Mott, A History of American Magazines 1741-1850: pp. 100-103. For the
House of Representatives printing of Jefferson's report, cf.: Evans
22994-7 and Rink: 874.    [Item no. 2547.]   $900.00.

3.   [Washington’s Farewell Address]   Thomas, Isaiah.    Thomas's
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode-Island, Newhampshire & Vermont
Almanack...for...1797.   1796.   Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts,
for Isaiah Thomas.   Worcester.   48 pp.   Old string ties, partially
present.  Old ink stains to tips of most pages.   Diagonal cut of about
1" from gutter into text on all leaves.  Typical age-toning but very
legible.
Ten pages of this almanac are devoted to a contemporary printing of
George Washington's Farewell Address.  In his introductory remarks to
the almanac, Thomas explains his desire to give the reader "something
each year which should be worth more at the end of it than the price you
gave for the Almanack."  In that regard, "...at the request of a number
of readers I have inserted the Farewell Address of our truly beloved
President to his fellow citizens; this valuable legacy to his country
(printed variously) sells from 12 1/2 to 50 cents.  It is well worth
preserving."  [The cost of the almanac was 10 cents.]   Washington never
spoke the address, but it was dated September 17, 1796 and appeared in
print shortly thereafter.   Evans: 31291.  Drake: 3575.   O'Neal:
769.    [Item no. 2540.]   $325.00.

4.   Washington, George.    The Last Will & Testament of General George
Washington.   1800.  Printed by Isaiah Thomas, Jun.   Worcester.   23
pp.   String-tied, never bound.  Corner and edge raggedness.  Light
staining and soiling.  [Image at:  http://snipurl.com/4isn ]
Washington's will was executed in July, 1799, about six months before
his death.  Among his assets were land in Virginia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, the Northwest Territory and the City
of Washington ("two [lots] near the Capitol Square..."). This printing,
by Isaiah Thomas, was made in February, 1800, shortly after Washington's
death in December, 1799.  Evans: 38994.  Howes:  W 145.  ESTC W13362.
Sabin: 101764.    [Item no. 2318.]   $450.00.

5.   [Washington Eulogy]   Woodward, Brother William.    An Oration
Pronounced at Hanover, New Hampshire, January 9, 1800...in Memory of
their Illustrious Brother, the Beloved Washington...   1800.
Printed...By Brother Moses Davis.   Hanover [NH].   17 pp.   Later
binding tape along spine; dog-eared; occasional (contemporary?) pencil
notations; bottom third of last leaf lacking, not affecting text.
This Washington eulogy was delivered in Hanover, New Hampshire "at the
request of Franklin Lodge, No. 6."  The eulogy eloquently traces
Washington's career from a 23-year old colonel in the French and Indian
War through his Presidency.   $225.00.

6.   [Washington Eulogy with Portrait]   Houdin, Michael Gabriel.    Et
sicut illud statutum est hominibus...A Funeral Oration on the Death of
George Washington...   1800.  Printed by Barber & Southwick.   Albany.
Pp. 3-11 only.   Lacks title and engraved frontis (of Houdin?), both of
which are supplied in facsimile; woodcut portrait of Washington is
present.  String-tied with apparent nineteenth century front wrapper.
Ownership inscriptions at top of page 3 (first page present).  [Image
at: http://snipurl.com/4isj ]
A fairly scarce George Washington funeral oration; ESTC locates seven
copies.  Although the title and frontis engraving are not present, the
magnificent woodcut portrait of Washington is present.  It graces the
top half of the first page of text.  The portrait has Washington (head
and shoulders) facing left, surrounded by a garland.  Around the outside
of the oval garland are two cannons, three bayonets, a sword and an
American flag, pointed down.  Below the portrait is a coffin.  The
portrait is by an unidentified artist, after that of Joseph Wright.  The
text of the oration is surrounded by a black border on all pages.
Evans: 37653.  Sabin: 33134.  Wick, George Washington: An American Icon
-- The Eighteenth-Century Graphic Portraits: 97.    [Item no. 2522.]
$250.00.

Thank you for your consideration.

Steve Hanly

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    B I C K E R S T A F F’s Books, Maps &c.
         Stephen P. Hanly, Proprietor
  Three Ellery Road  ~  Waltham, MA 02453 USA

   Phone: 781-899-5504  ~  Fax: 781-894-2732

             E-mail: sph at bickerstaffs.com
      Web site: http://www.bickerstaffs.com

 Books & maps of 18th and 19th century America,
specializing in early New England imprints & maps.

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