Description
The first edition of The Life Of George Washington by John Marshall, published in five volumes by C.P. Wayne of Philadelphia from 1804-1807. Paired with the Atlas from the second edition in 1832.
Octavo, [2], xxii, 488pp, 45pp; viii, 560pp, 72pp; viii, 580pp, 28pp; viii, 626pp, [2], 16pp; vii, 779pp, 36pp. Contemporary tree calf, title in gilt over red morocco label, decorative gilt illustrations on spines. Frontispiece in Volume I by D. Edwin. Bookplate affixed to front endpaper of each volume. Dampstain affecting first signature of Volume IV and front endpaper, endpapers of Volume III. Occasional toning throughout, various levels of foxing, all with solid text blocks and solid binding. Includes the atlas from the Second Edition of The Life of George Washington, published in 1832 by J. Crissy of Philadelphia, with 10 double-page, hand colored maps, cloth backed boards, toning and offsetting, solid binding.
(Sabin 44788) (Howes M317)
This first presidential biography was written by Chief Justice John Marshall, the close friend of General George Washington. Marshall began working on this biography shortly after he was appointed to the Supreme Court, at the request of Associate Justice Bushrod Washington, who had inherited the papers of his uncle. This first printing and the English edition from the same year, are the only editions to include the chapters on “Colonial History,” which were omitted in later editions.
