FIRST EDITION OF MARSHALL'S LIFE OF WASHINGTON, WITH SCARCE ATLAS VOLUME OF THE MILITARY CAMPAIGNS

(WASHINGTON, George) MARSHALL, John. The Life of George Washington. Philadelphia: C.P. Wayne, 1804-07. Five large octavo text volumes and quarto atlas volume. Mid-20th-century three-quarter black morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers. $15,000.

First edition of Marshall's monumental life of Washington, with the companion atlas volume of ten strategic maps (eight double-page) depicting Washington's major Revolutionary campaigns and frontispiece portrait of Washington in Volume I.

Shortly after Marshall became Chief Justice he was approached by Washington's nephew, Bushrod, to write the first President's official biography. Probably no man was better suited to the task. As a personal friend of Washington, Marshall had been the one to announce the President's death in 1799, had offered the eulogy, had chaired the committee that arranged the funeral rites, and had led the commission to plan a monument in the capital city. When Marshall's Life of Washington appeared, it was considered so authoritative that Washington scholar Jared Sparks suggested any new biographical undertaking would be "presumptuous" (Sparks, Washington I:12). This first edition, together with the first English edition of the same years, are "the only complete editions of this indispensable work, the 'Colonial History' being omitted in the later American editions" (Sabin). With frontispiece portrait of Washington in Volume I. With very scarce companion atlas of 22-page list of subscriberss and ten strategic maps (most folding) showing Boston, New York Island, the engagement on White Plains, New Jersey, the northern wilderness, Rhode Island, Charleston, and the operations of the southern armies. Howes M317. Sabin 44788. Shaw & Shoemaker 6710, 12996. Very faint early owner signature on title page of Volume IV.

Very light foxing, less than usual, a bit of faint marginal dampstaining in Volume II, corner repair to leaf N2 in Volume I. Slight offsetting from otherwise fine maps. An exceptional set in excellent condition, handsomely bound.