“AFFAIRS WERE EVERY DAY BECOMING MORE DANGEROUS IN AMERICA”: SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF THE 1780 REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY ATTRIBUTED TO EDMUND BURKE, WITH 13 COPPER-ENGRAVED PORTRAITS AND FOLDING MAP

[BURKE, Edmund]. An Impartial History of the War in America, Between Great Britain and Her Colonies, From Its Commencement to the end of the Year 1779. London: R. Faulder, 1780. Thick octavo, contemporary full tree calf. $8500.

First edition, second issue, of this early Revolutionary history based on a series in England’s Annual Register attributed to Edmund Burke, rarely found with all 13 copper-engraved plates of Revolutionary figures—including Washington, Samuel Adams, Hancock, Arnold and Franklin—and its impressive folding map of North America (measuring 17 by 21 inches), beautifully bound.

Attributed to Edmund Burke, this anonymously published volume is one of the very earliest Revolutionary histories in book form to be derived from London's Annual Register, "an original authority of high value… for the revolutionary struggles" (Libby, Some Pseudo Histories, 425). Outspoken in his assessment British colonial policies, Burke was a frequent editor and principal contributor of the Register. Beginning in 1776, the magazine began a series that offered "the most able, impartial and authentic history of the dispute which can be found…. Understood to be drawn up by Burke… (and there is no doubt of it), the arguments on each side are displayed with an impartiality that is quite admirable" (Church 1171). The Register was the principal "source for most if not all of the material to be found" here and in histories by David Ramsay, James Murray and William Gordon that also borrowed heavily from the series (Libby, 422). Dramatic and compelling in its coverage of the Revolution, this History is also highly sought for its impressive folding map of America and the handsome, copper-engraved portraits, rarely found, depicting 13 leading Revolutionary figures—including Washington, Arnold, Charles Lee, Samuel Adams, Hancock, Franklin and General Howe. This complete volume contains the folding map and all of the 13 plates "usually extracted by the illustrators" (Sabin 34375). First edition, second issue, with page vii correctly paginated, R. Faulder imprint. A subsequent 1781 Boston edition "is in part a reprint of this" (Adams 80-45a). Howes B975.

A bit of offsetting from plates, interior very clean; handsome contemporary tree calf with expert restoration to joints, spine ends and corners. A lovely copy.