Books and Manuscripts

(Gordon, Patrick)
The History of the War in America, Between Great Britain and Her Colonies, From Its Commencement to the end of the Year 1778...
Dublin: Printed for the Company of Booksellers, 1779-1785. In three volumes. First edition. 8vo. (ii), vi, (v)-41, (1)-*2, 2-352, 349-399; 427, (5); (iv), xii, 432 pp. With folding table list of the British casualties in the Battles of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, etc.; lacking the engraved map of North America, and supplied with a hand-colored map of Canada (An Accurate Map of Canada…, London, 1761). Contemporary full speckled brown calf, red and brown morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, extremities lightly worn and rubbed, joints lightly rubbed and dry, headcaps chipped on each volume, tailcaps rubbed, light chipping and wear to spines; edges stained green; scattered minor spotting to text throughout set; minor dampstaining in bottom corner of several leaves at rear of third volume; contemporary ownership signature of Samuel Edgar on front free endpaper in each volume. Howes G-254; Sabin 32226; Adams, The American Controversy 79-56a (Vol. I), c (Vol. II), and d (Vol. III)

A scarce history of the American Revolution, with the uncommon third volume, "seldom found" (Sabin), published six years after the first two volumes. Including the folding table listing the names and ranks of the British forces either killed, wounded, or missing at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and Bunker Hill, which is "frequently wanting." (Sabin). Largely plagiarized from the Annual Register, and attributed by Lowndes to Patrick Gordon, and ESTC to Edmund Burke.