![Item #205743 A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America;; Containing a Succinct Account of its Climate, Natural History, Population, Agriculture, Manners and Customs . . . To Which is Annexed a Delineation of the Laws and Government of the State of Kentucky. Tending to Shew the Probable Rise and Grandeur of the American Empire. Vol. II: John Fislon, The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucky: And an Essay Towards the Topography and Natural History of that Important Country. To Which is Added, I. The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon [sic]... II. The Minutes of the Plankashaw Council. . . III. An Account of the Indian nations . . . IV. A report of the Secretary of State . . . V. Thoughts on Emigration . . . Being a Supplement to Imlay's description of the Western Territory. Gilbert Imlay.](https://locussolusrarebooks.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/205743.jpeg?width=768&height=1000&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1584638843)
A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America;; Containing a Succinct Account of its Climate, Natural History, Population, Agriculture, Manners and Customs . . . To Which is Annexed a Delineation of the Laws and Government of the State of Kentucky. Tending to Shew the Probable Rise and Grandeur of the American Empire. Vol. II: John Fislon, The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucky: And an Essay Towards the Topography and Natural History of that Important Country. To Which is Added, I. The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon [sic]... II. The Minutes of the Plankashaw Council. . . III. An Account of the Indian nations . . . IV. A report of the Secretary of State . . . V. Thoughts on Emigration . . . Being a Supplement to Imlay's description of the Western Territory.
New York: Samuel Campbell, 1793. First American edition of Imlay; Second edition of Filson. Two vols., 12mos, 260 [i.e. 250, mispaginated after p. 215], 204pp; contemporary calf. Ownership signatures and bookplate of Henry Palmer, New York (signatures read "Palmeyer"); general soil, some marks and annotations; first volume lacks map; map in second volume torn; cover scuffed and well-used, with wear to the top of the spine of Vol. I. Item #205743
Important early work describing the region, with tipped in map of Kentucky, hand-colored. The map has been torn and is missing a piece from the lower left-hand corner amounting to bit less than 20% of the surface. The first volume includes the folding "Plan of the Rapids of the Ohio" The Filson volume includes added texts, notably the first account of the life of Daniel Boone (this had appered in the first edition of Filson in 1784), and the "Report of the Secretary of State..." by Thomas Jefferson. Imlay, an American sailor, adventurer, merchant, mercenary, and diplomat was a scurrilous character who, having made a fortune in Kentucky, fled his creditors and lived mainly in France and England (where the first edition was published). He was involved in a long relationship with Mary Wollstonecraft, but he abandoned her following the birth of their daughter -- leading to her first suicide attempt. Sabin 34356. Howes I-12.
Price: $1,250.00