Lot Details
Lot 38
MATHER, COTTON Magnalia Christi Americana; or, the Ecclesiastical History of New-England, from the First Planting in the Year 1620 unto the Year of our Lord, 1698.
London: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1702. First edition. Full brown morocco gilt by Rivière & Son, the spine gilt and with raised bands, gilt turn-ins, all edges gilt, slipcased. 12 1/4 x 8 inches (31.2 x 20 cm); [30], 38, [2], 75, [1], [2], 238, [2], 125-222; 100; [2] 88; 118; 4 pp. (the concluding 4 pp. are the ads for Parkhurst, not found in all copies) This copy lacks the preliminary blank (thus, the first title is a singleton), and the blank at 6M2. The errata leaves, which were not issued until after publication, are not present in this copy. A few scuffs to the spine, but overall sound. Within, a few minor restorations, most notably at D3 with a repair touching a few words at foot, two leaves with corner creases, the map in overall fresh condition. A few leaves, mostly towards the beginning, are slightly narrower than the balance, but it is unclear if these are supplied or if this is simply a peculiarity of the way this copy was bound before being finely dressed by Rivière. The copy of Robert. W. Weir, with his name twice on the title, i.e. recto and verso; bookplate of R. Percy Alden.
First edition of "the most famous American book of colonial times and the indispensable source for colonial social history" (Streeter). This copy retains the full-sheet folding map of New England and New York in sound clean condition, and has the final leaves of advertisements for books printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the rear. The seven parts in the work discuss the settlement of New England and the lives of its early magistrates and governors, the history of Harvard College and the New England Church. Included are the Hannah Duston captivity narrative, an account of the Salem witch trials, The Wars of the Lord (dealing with dissident religious sects etc.) and much else. Howes M-391; Sabin 46392; Streeter Sale I, 658; Church 806; McCorkle New England in Early Printed Maps 702.3; Schwarz & Ehrenberg Mapping of America pp. 133-134;
C Property from The Monroe and Elizabeth Dreher Collection
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