[Rarebooks] FS: Cotton Mather's Ecclesiastical History of New England (1702)

[Ezra Tishman]

Ezra from Aardvark 

Good morning, from sunny (but still chilly!) Oregon.

Ezra from Aardvark offers a very nice copy of Cotton Mather’s Magnalia Christi Americana
																		                 $5,500


Mather, Cotton (Rev.). MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA: OR THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND FROM ITS FIRST PLANTING IN THE YEAR 1620, UNTO THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1698: IN SEVEN BOOKS. London.: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, 1702. First Edition. 4to.12 1/4" x 8 1/4". (33 cm.) Full contemporary calf, scalloped borders, stamped in blind. Paneled spine skilfully repaired. Contrasting brick-red morocco title label, (skewed at an angle and with the apostrophe in the wrong place). General title page mounted, 7 separate title pages. Double page engraved map. A note about errata, and a single leaf of published advertisements at end.
Running title, Books I, II and VII: Magnalia Christi Americana: or, The history of New-England. Running title, Books III-VI:

The History of New-England. Each "Book" has separate title page and separate pagination: Book I: [30], 38 p., [1] folded map; book II: [2], 75, [1] p.; book III: [2], 238 p.; book IV: [2], 125-222 p.; book V: 100 p.; book VI: [2], 88 p.; book VII: 118, [4] Full-sheet map,entitled: "An Exact Mapp of New England and New York" is regarded as the first general map of New England published in the eighteenth century. Errors in pagination: Book 3: p. 69, misprinted 79; Book 6: p. 86, misprinted 98. Final two advertising leaves, and final blank.

Text printed in two columns. I. Antiquities: In Seven Chapters. With an Appendix. II. Containing the Lives of the Governours,

and Names of the Magistrates of New-England: In Thirteen Chapters. With an appendix. III. The Lives of Sixty Famous Divines, by whole Ministry the Churches of New-England have been Planted and Continued. IV. An Account of the University of Cambridge in New-England ; in Two Parts. The First contains the Laws, the Benefactors, and Vicissitudes of Harvard College ; with Remarks upon it. The Second Part contains the Lives of some Eminent Persons Educated in it. V. Acts and Monuments of the Faith and Order in the Churches of New-England, passed in their Synods ; with Historical Remarks upon those Venerable Assemblies ; and a great Variety of Church-Cases occurring, and resolved by the Synods of those Churches: In Four Parts. VI. A Faithful Record of many Illustrious, Wonderful Providences, both of Mercies and Judgments, on divers Persons in New-England: In Eight Chapters. VII. The Wars of the Lord. Being an History of the Manifold Afflictions and Disturbances of the Churches in New-England, from their Various Adversaries, and the Wonderful Methods and Mercies of God in their Deliverance: In Six Chapters: To which is added, An Appendix of Remarkable Occurrences which New-England had in the Wars with the Indian Salvages, from the Year 1688, to the Year 1698. More than 50-pages relating to "The Troubles which the Churches of New England have undergone in the WARS, which the People of that Country have had with the Indian Salvages.". It begins by listing the legitimate-sounding grievances of the Indians, then follows with a much lengthier refutation of all of those claims of grievance. Much detail, many names of chiefs, taking and treatment of prisoners, etc.

First edition of "the most famous American book of colonial times and the indispensable source for colonial social history" (Streeter). This copy retains the full-sheet folding map of New England and New York in sound clean condition, and has the final leaf of advertisements for books printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the rear. Errata note, but the errata sheets, which were said to be printed after publication, seem to be wanting.

The seven parts in the work offer an early history of the settlement of New England and the lives of its early magistrates and

governors, the history of Harvard College and the New England Church, short sketches of the lives of governors and ministers, Puritan modes of worship, instances of "Illustrious, Wonderful Providences" in New England, accounts of various afflictions visited on New England, the Salem witch trials in which he played a pivotal role, the captivity and escape of Hannah Duston, the Wars of the Lord (dealing with dissident religious sects etc. such as Quakers), and puns, poems, sermons, and anagrams. etc/ Howes M-391; Sabin 46392; Streeter Sale I, 658; Church 806" (from description of auction record, via RBH).

Provenance: Note (laid in): "With Compliments & Thanks of W. & G. Foyle, Ltd., Beeleigh Abbey Books, Beeleigh Abbey" Maldon, Essex. (Beeleigh Abbey was a 12th-century monastery purchased in 1943 by William Foyle, owner of Foyle's Bookshop in Charing Cross, London, and several other locations.) Very Good Plus. Leather-bound.

"Cotton Mather (1663-1728) was a New England Puritan minister, prolific author, and pamphleteer who wrote over 450 books and pamphlets, making him one of the most influential religious leaders in colonial America. The most important and greatest of his published works is the Magnalia Christi Americana... While not entirely historically accurate, Magnalia Christi Americana... provides a garrulous overview of the state of society and manners in New England during the early colonial period".

Lovely and strong copy of the most famous American book of colonial times and an indispensible source of history. (Sabin

46392) 




Ezra The Bookfinder
Aardvark Books, ABAA 
& Ezra Tishman Book Appraisals, LLC
3650 Chambers Street
Eugene, OR  97405-1917
(541) 683-3131 Office     (541) 520-9821 Cell/BEST
thebookfinder at gmail.com   http://ezrabook.com
bookappraisals at gmail.com

Fine Books, Manuscripts and Archives Sold, Consigned & Appraised, since 1995.
Member ABAA, ILAB, IOBA 
Qualified Appraiser, Books and Manuscripts,  American Society of Appraisers (ASA)