[Rarebooks] FS: Simcoe's Military Journal w. engraved plans

[Kaaterskill Books]

We offer for Sale:

Simcoe. J. G. [John Graves]. SIMCOE'S MILITARY JOURNAL. A HISTORY OF 
THE OPERATIONS OF A PARTISAN CORPS, CALLED THE QUEEN'S RANGERS, 
COMMANDED BY LIEUT. COL. J. G. SIMCOE, DURING THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN 
REVOLUTION; ILLUSTRATED BY TEN ENGRAVED PLANS OF ACTIONS, &C. NOW 
FIRST PUBLISHED, WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR AND OTHER ADDITIONS. 
Edited by Silvanus Miller, Jr. New York: Bartlett & Welford, 1844. 
xvii, [3], [13]-328 pp. Illus. with 10 folding maps. 8vo. Three 
quarter brown morocco over marbled boards, five raised bands, 
compartments ruled in gilt, two morocco title labels, one in red and 
one in black, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers (hardback). Sabin 
81135. Howes S461. Amer. Imprints 445634. Church 1223 (1787). Larned 
1498. Bibliography of Virginia 5047. First printed edition.

John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), was part of the first embarkation of 
Irish reinforcements for the army at Boston in 1775, served in the 
1776 New York and 1777 Philadelphia campaigns, being severely wounded 
at Brandywine.

"On 15 October 1777 he took command of the Queen's rangers, a 
loyalist 'legion' of mixed light horse and foot; at first with the 
provincial rank of major, and later of lieutenant-colonel commandant, 
Simcoe made his name in the petite guerre of raids, reconnaissance, 
and outpost skirmishing that characterized its service. As 
contemptuous of the military capacity of his adversaries as he was of 
their republicanism, his leadership made the Queen's rangers the most 
successful of the American loyalist corps. He was captured in 1779 
and spent six months as a prisoner" (DNB).

He was later Governor of Canada and Commander-in-Chief in India. The 
journal, issued privately in 1787, details the operations that 
"occurred in the vicinity of New York City, in West-Chester county, 
Long Island, Staten Island, in various parts of New Jersey, the 
neighbourhood of Philadelphia, Germantown, &c., in North and South 
Carolina, in Virginia, at the time of Arnold's invasion, and through 
the whole subsequent movements in that state, till Cornwallis' 
surrender at Yorktown," Sabin (who states the editor is Silvanus 
Miller, Jr.).

But the work was mainly unknown until a copy turned up at the 
Chalmers' library sale in 1841, from which copy this 1844, and first 
printed version, was produced (See Church, V.5, p.2384).

"Simcoe's narrative is even more egotistical than Tarleton's. But his 
details may be relied upon if one constantly remembers that events 
are related without any regard to their real importance," Larned 
wrote, quoting Channing.

Tipped in to verso of front endpaper is an article on the Barlow 
Americana sale (Feb. 1890) which lists Dodd, Mead, and Co, purchasing 
Barlow's copy of Simcoe's original privately published Journal. 
Provenance: E. H. Kent, his bookplate and his initials in gilt on 
spine. Very good, spine somewhat darkened, boards rubbed, armorial 
bookplate, news article tipped in with subsequent offsetting on first 
blank, scattered foxing throughout as usual, including maps which are 
still crisp and without tears, but otherwise a nice, handsome copy. 
[35291] $1000.00 

Regards,

Charles Kutcher
Kaaterskill Books
P. O. Box 122
East Jewett, NY 12424
email: books at kaaterskillbooks.com
phone: 518-589-0555
www.kaaterskillbooks.com
Members ABAA/ILAB


TERMS:

Call or email us to reserve a book. We accept checks, money orders, 
American Express, Mastercard, and Visa. Foreign orders should be in 
U.S. funds on a U.S. bank. New York residents please add appropriate 
sales tax or forward a tax id number. Libraries and Institutions can 
be billed. Trade allowance. Postage for Domestic orders is $4.00 for 
the first book and $1.50 for each additional volume. Books are 
normally shipped Media Mail. For international orders, postage is 
calculated individually. All books may be returned in original 
condition for any reason within two weeks with prior notification.