Isaac

1799 · 162628 — London: John Stockdale 1799. An enthusiastic admirer of the beauties of nature First edition with the index incorrectly identifying the fourth plate. This work handsomely illustrated from the author's sketches "was regarded as the great authority of the period on American subjects. There can be no question that the colonization of Canada was mainly promoted and influenced by this book" Bibliotheca Americana. Isaac Weld 1774-1856 left Dublin for Philadelphia in 1795 and "accompanied by a faithful servant sometimes on horseback sometimes on foot or in a canoe he made his way often under the guidance of Native Americans through the vast forests and along the great rivers. He narrowly escaped shipwreck on Lake Erie and experienced all the adventure incident to passing through an unsettled country while in the towns he mixed in the best society and had the privilege of meeting George Washington" ODNB. Aside from the attractive folding map the work includes plans of Washington DC and Quebec; maps of Canada and the Niagara Falls; three views of the Falls; and an illustration of an "American stage waggon" leaving a staging post. The work proved popular going through four editions by 1807 and being translated into French German and Dutch. The plate showing the Hudson River is labelled as "View of the Patowmac River from Mount Vernon". The index of the second edition is corrected. Quarto 270 x 207 mm pp. xxiv 464 8. Engraved frontispiece and 14 plates views and plates one folding map hand-coloured in outline; 8 pp. publisher's advertisements at end. Contemporary speckled calf smooth spine with gilt bands red morocco spine label covers ruled in blind. Brent Gration-Maxfield 1916-1983 book collector and scholar with his ownership signature dated 1969 on front pastedown and extensive neatly pencilled bibliographic notes on the front free endpaper; contemporary gift note loosely inserted. Binding refurbished with gilt retouched superficial abrasions to covers folding map with short tear at stub small paper tears to b3 and G1. A very good copy. Bibliotheca Americana 3282; Howes W235; Lowndes 2868; Sabin 102541. unknown