[American Revolution] Mitchell, S. Weir. Hugh Wynne Free Quaker...

New York: The Century Co., 1897. In three volumes. First edition. Original 12mo leaves window-mounted into small folio sheets. Finely extra-illustrated with nearly 400 autograph letters, documents, engraved plates and views, original pen and ink drawings, and illuminated initials. Three-quarter royal blue levant over yellow linen-covered boards, decorated in gilt, rubbing to extremities, tips worn; top edges gilt, other edges untrimmed; marbled endpapers; by Blackwell; light scattered edgewear and spotting to text.

An impressive extra-illustrated set of S. Weir Mitchell's greatest work, with nearly 400 inserts, including 16 autograph letters and documents, 60 pen and ink and/or watercolor sketches, and 313 finely engraved portraits and views.

The letters and documents include an autograph letter by John Nixon (first to publicly read the Declaration of Independence) and John Wharton, asking the Navy Board to supply 70 pounds of shot to Capt. Thomas Albertson, commander of the schooner Mosquito, who was about to put to sea in 1777; war-dated documents, from 1777, by Owen Biddle and Samuel Morris, both chairmen of the Pennsylvania Board of War; A.L.s. by Thomas Willing and Nicholas Waln, famous merchants of the Revolution; A.L.s. by Judges Jasper Yeates and Edward Shippen; a bill of sale between Thomas Mason and Thomas Riche, dated August 21, 1771, for the sale of four slaves; and many others.

The pen and ink and watercolors include portraits of John Nixon, Richard Penn, Gen. Charles O'Hara, David J. Dove, Thomas Willing, Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, Lieutenant Pitcairn, Williamina Bond, William Earl Harcourt, Rev. William White, Margaret F. Shippen, Honora Sneyd, Robert H. Harrison, Billy Washington, Col. Thomas Forrest, Peggy Chew, and others.

Provenance

New York, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., Lives and Times of Our Forefathers 1750 to 1850. Autographs and Books. Collection Formed by the Late David McNeely Stauffer. Now the Property of the Estate of the Late Florence S. S. Rogers (Formerly Mrs David McNeely Stauffer), October 25-26, 1938, Lot 178

John Kersley Mitchell Jr. (1917-1966)

Frances K. Mitchell Wister, thence by descent