The History of the American Revolution
Northumberland, Pennsylvania: Printed for the Author, by Andrew Kennedy, 1805. First Edition. Volume I [All Published]. Octavo, lacking the four preliminary pages (iv), including the title page. Pagination: 1–2, 5–8, 17–22, 25–160, 169–192, eight additional pages consecutively numbered 192 (as issued), 193–606, [1] page of errata. Lacking 20 numbered pages (3–4, 9–16, 23–24, and 161–168), with stubs of some missing leaves remaining at the gutters. Bound in later tan cloth covered boards. Several leaves exhibit large tears, some with loss of paper and printed text, some are detached, along with scattered foxing, staining, and discoloration throughout. Formerly in the collection of the Montgomery County Historical Society, with institutional markings. A substantially incomplete and worn copy of this scarce early American imprint. Published in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, in 1805, *The History of the American Revolution: Including the Most Important Events and Resolutions of the Honourable Continental Congress During That Period; and Also, the Most Interesting Letters and Orders of His Excellency General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces* is a scarce and historically significant account of the opening years of the American Revolution by Bernard Hubley Jr. (1754–1810), himself a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Commissioned as a first lieutenant in the German Battalion of the Continental Army in 1776 and promoted to captain in 1778, Hubley drew upon contemporary documents, unpublished papers of fellow officers, and materials supplied by General Edward Hand in compiling his history. The work provides a detailed documentary narrative beginning with the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and continuing through the proceedings of the Continental Congress in October 1775, incorporating congressional resolutions, military correspondence, and orders issued by George Washington. Particularly valuable for its preservation of contemporary accounts and documentation of the Revolution's early political and military developments, the work is regarded as one of the earliest American documentary histories of the conflict. Although Hubley intended to produce a multivolume history, only the first volume was published before his death in 1810. Bibliographer Joseph Sabin characterized the work as a "scarce and important volume." Printed by Andrew Kennedy for the author, this first and only edition remains a notable example of early nineteenth-century Pennsylvania historical printing. Rubbing and wear, discoloration, institutional markings, lacks numerous leaves as mentioned, several detached pages, soiling, gutter cracked in several places, some tears. In poor condition and priced accordingly. Item #669
Price: $600.00