[Rarebooks] fa: FIRST NAVAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1814 - THOMAS CLARK -2vols/Frontispiece

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, along with other Naval Americana, auctions ending Sunday, January 27. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/adtanff

Thanks,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.

Thomas Clark: Naval History of the United States, from the Commencement of the Revolutionary War to the Present Time. Philadelphia: M. Carey, 1814. Two volumes, small 8vo (19 cm), bound in modern cloth; 239 pp., 255 pp.; half-title to vol. I, both vols. with publisher's adverts; engraved frontispiece.

Considered the first significant history of the American navy, this second edition is "considerably enlarged" and includes a copperplate frontispiece of the Constitution and Guerriere not found in the first edition. Light rubbing to the bindings; staining to the top of the text block of vol. I; small closed tear to the top edge of the frontispiece; leaves toned (but not to the extent usually found in early American imprints); otherwise clean. A solid example of a rather uncommon work.

In what may be a hint of his political party affiliation, Clark uses the preface of this second edition to note that "Mr. John Adams, late president of the United States has been particularly active" in procuring information to help augment the work, and he thanks "this patriotic gentleman… for his attention and kindness"; at the same time, the author regrets that "it was not in my power to avail myself" of some "observations of Mr. Jefferson… on the Tripolitan War." No mention of whether he considers Jefferson a patriot or a gentleman. Among many other fascinating contemporary insights and anecdotes, the work includes a chapter on the development, construction and use of the torpedo and "submarine vessels."