London: Printed for the Author: And sold by J. Bowen, 1780.

Full Description:

CHALMERS, George. Political Annals of the Present United Colonies, From their Settlement to the Peace of 1763: Compiled chiefly from Records, and authorized often by the Insertion of State-Papers. Book 1. London: Printed for the Author: And sold by J. Bowen, 1780.

Quarto (11 7/16 x 9 inches; 291 x 228 mm). [10], 695, [1, blank] pp. Although stated as "Book 1" on the title-page, no more books were published in separate form. "Book II appeared in the collections of the New York historical society, 1868." (UNC Libraries).

Full contemporary speckled calf, rebacked with original spine laid down. Original red morocco spine label, lettered in gilt. Front and back board with the armorial crest of "The Society of Writers to the Signet." Top edge dyed black, others speckled red. Previous owner's old ink signature on title-page. A repaired closed marginal tear to leaf M2, just touching a few letters. Some scattered foxing throughout. Overall a very good copy.

The Society of Writers to the Signet is a private society of Scottish Lawyers which dates back to 1594. According to their website "The Society owns and operates the Signet Library, a magnificent example of neo-classical architecture from the Enlightenment era, located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The Signet Library is adjacent to St Giles’ Cathedral and connected to Parliament Hall where Scotland’s Supreme Courts are located. The Signet Library is not only a law library but a repository of books, manuscripts, newspapers, journals and other texts on all aspects of human knowledge and literature. Our archives are a treasure chest of Scottish history and culture."

"Born in Scotland in 1742, Chalmers came to Maryland in 1763 and practiced as an attorney until 1775. Hostilities between Britain and its colonies drove the ardent loyalist to leave North America for London. In England, Chalmers began amassing documents and writing histories about colonial North America and British imperial policy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries." (George Chalmers and the History Wars of the American Revolutionary Era By Mark Boonshoft, for the NYPL).

"Chalmers spent the early 1780s in literary projects designed to arouse opinion against the Americans and their British supporters. In 1780 he published his Annals of the Present United Colonies, in which he insisted that the American colonies had always had a subversive desire for independence and that parliament had the right to tax the colonies without their consent." (Oxford DNB).

ESTC T149593. Adams 80. Howes C266. Sabin 1176. (No other editions listed by Adams, Howes or Sabin).

HBS 68918.

$3,500.

Price: $3,500.00

Item #68918