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, with the companion atlas from 1807.
Octavo, [2], xxii, 488pp, 45pp, [1]; [2pp ads], viii, 560pp, 72pp; viii, 580pp, 28pp; viii, [2], 626pp, [2], 16pp; vii, 779pp, 36pp. Original blue-gray boards, paper spines, title in black over orange spine labels. Uncut fore-edge. Frontispiece in Volume I by D. Edwin, after Gilbert Stuart. Ownership inscription of “William Smith / 1804” in Volume II, otherwise devoid of marginalia or inscriptions. Volume II also includes the advertisement leaf for Volume III of the Life of Washington. Occasional toning throughout, light foxing to endpapers, all with solid text blocks and solid binding. expert archival reinforcement to hinges.
Includes the publisher’s first issue atlas, published by C.P. Wayne in 1807, with ten double-page maps, period paper boards, spine rebacked with calf. Lacking 22-page subscribers list, often lacking.
(Sabin 44788) (Howes M317)
Each volume individually housed in maroon cloth clamshell, titles in gilt over matching morocco label.
This first presidential biography was written by Chief Justice John Marshall, a 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.
