London: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1702. First edition. Folio. (xxx), 38, (2), 75, (1), (2), 238, (2), 125-222, 100, (2), 88, 118, (4, ads, Church's first variant) pp.; without the errata (printed after publication, and not always found). Illustrated with a double-page engraved map of New England and New York. Full brown morocco, decorated in gilt; all edges gilt; text presumably washed; loss to top corner 6E2, not affecting text. Church 806; Grolier, 100 American 6; Howes M-391; Sabin 46392; Schwartz & Ehrenberg, pp. 133-134 (map); Streeter 658; ESTC T79039

First edition of the greatest history of New England, a landmark in New England religion and American literature, "the most famous American book of colonial times and the indispensable source for colonial social history" (Streeter). The seven books within give accounts of the settlement and religious development of New England, and include an account of the lives of its governors and magistrates, biographies of sixty famous divines, the founding and history of Harvard College, a history of the Congregational Church of New England, and an account of the "Wars of the Lord", regarding dissident religious sects. Also included is Mather's description of the Salem Witch Trials and the escape of Hannah Dustin, one the most well-known captivity narratives.