HISTORY OF THE WAR IN AMERICA, 1779-1785, COMPLETE WITH THE EXCEPTIONALLY SCARCE THIRD VOLUME

[GORDON, Patrick]. The History of the War in America, Between Great Britain and Her Colonies. Dublin: Printed for the Company of Booksellers, 1779-1785. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary full tree calf rebacked, original red and grey morocco spine labels. $15,000.

First edition, including a folding map of North America, a folding table listing the British forces "killed and wounded" at the battles of Concord, Lexington and Bunker Hill and the exceptionally rare third volume, which is often missing.

This uncommon history of the American Revolution, derived in part from the Annual Register, is attributed to Patrick Gordon by Lowndes and (possibly) to Edmund Burke by ESTC. The first volume, based on the Rev. T. Ferguson's Complete History of the Present Civil War Between Great Britain and the United Colonies of North America, traces the sequence of various conflicts between Great Britain and the colonies from 1774 to 1778; the second contains political papers relating to the Stamp Act and other controversial legislative measures, and the third continues the history until 1783. The work expresses a strong pro-American sentiment throughout. "The third volume, which continues the history to 1783, was a subsequent publication, and is seldom found with the other two… The folded table, giving the names and rank of the killed, wounded, and missing of the British forces at the battles of Concord and Bunker Hill, is frequently wanting" (Sabin 32226). Adams 79-56b, c and d. ESTC T45609, T45610. Sabin 27992, 32226. Howes G-254. Lowndes, 915.

A few inoffensive repairs to folding table. A fine, crisp copy in contemporary calf boards.