A Fine Collection of American Literature and History

Hartford: Printed Por (sic) the Author, By Hale & Hosmer, 1813. First edition (with "Winchester (CT) April 16, 1813" printed at end of Preface). 12mo. (vii), 107 pp. Original brown wrappers, front wrapper torn away, spine perished; all edges trimmed; contemporary ownership signature at top of title-page, partially torn away; scattered foxing and soiling to text; pp. 41-44 loose; final leaf and rear wrapper detached. Howes S-642; Sabin 83618

Very rare first edition of Michael Smith's description of Upper Canada, featuring the fullest contemporary account of the geography, population, and culture of the region. This volume would prove extremely valuable to American soldiers during the War of 1812, whose battles were primarily fought on Canadian soil.

Smith was born and raised in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but moved to the Niagara region of Upper Canada in 1810 due to cheap land prices and the lack of available land in Pennsylvania. After the War of 1812 broke out two years later, Smith and his family were constantly harassed or threatened for being "Yankees" despite his claim that he had sworn an oath of allegiance to King George III. He decided to return to the United States, and traveled with his family to Kingston, Ontario to appear before an alien board to obtain American passports. During the process, the original manuscript for this book was confiscated. After entering the United States, and traveling through the state of Vermont, Smith met a wealthy benefactor who offered to advance him money for this book's publication. He quickly rewrote his account based on his own memory and papers still in his possession. It was published in an edition of 3,000 copies, in Hartford, in 1813.

This is the first copy we have been able to trace in the auction record in over 50 years.