FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF HINTON’S HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY, WITH NEARLY 40 ENGRAVED PLATES, IN HANDSOME CONTEMPORARY MARBLED CALF

HINTON, John Howard. The History and Topography of the United States… A New and Improved Edition. Boston: Samuel Walker, 1834. Two volumes. Quarto, contemporary full marbled calf, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines and covers, marbled endpapers. $1800.

First American edition of Hinton’s popular illustrated history of the United States, with 37 full-page engraved plates depicting American cities, landmarks, and significant events, as well as an engraved frontispiece and title page in each volume. Handsome in contemporary marbled calf.

An English Congregational minister, Hinton advocated religious tolerance and the abolition of slavery. His popular History and Topography first saw publication in 1834. Many editions followed. Readers especially valued the work for its engravings, 99 of which had been included in the first edition. ithout the map of North America in Volume I. With a plate of Boston in Volume II, not called for in the “Directions for the Binder.” Sabin 31966. Howes H512. Rich II:258. A large gilt- and blind-tooled diamond on each volume’s front cover encloses the name of Leonard Wheeler, who ordered the binding. Perhaps these volumes belonged to the Reverend Leonard Wheeler, a Congregational minister like Hinton and just as socially conscious; in the 1850s, Wheeler served among the Ojibwa tribes of Wisconsin as a missionary and as an advocate for Native American rights.

Scattered light foxing. Minor edge-wear, light rubbing to spines, minimal abrasions to calf. Gilt bright. A very handsome set in near-fine condition.