4th Dec, 2019 10:30 GMT/BST

Books, Maps & Ephemera

 
Lot 54
 

54

[Burke, Edmund]. Broken run of The Annual Register or a View of the History, Politics and...

[Burke, Edmund].
Broken run of The Annual Register or a View of the History, Politics and Literature for the Years 1762, 1763, 1767 [all later], 1772, 1776, 1777, 1779, 1781-90 [all Dodsley], 1791-3 [Rivington, along with Robinson's New Register for 1792], 1794, 1796 [G.G.J. & J. Robinson], 1795, 1798, 1799 [Proprietors of Dodsley's Annual Register]. Various publishers, principally J Dodsley, varying dates and editions. 8vo (36 vols). Variously bound in leather; provenance: some volumes with bookplate of William Robertson, Senator of the College of Justice, other bookplates.
Perhaps the two most significant volumes in this run both relate to America. That of 1776 (published in 1777) features the first British publication of the Declaration of Independence, along with contextual matter and historical accounts of its promulgation. The second is that for 1787 which included an early UK printing of the full text of the new Constitution of the United States, along with the text of Washington's transmittal letter from the Convention to Congress. This volume was printed in 1789 - the year in which Washington became President and the first Congress convened. There are two other moments of Revolutionary War interest in 1781 and 1783. 1781 features detailed accounts of the Battles of Guildford Court House and Yorktown (with the surrender of Cornwallis) as well as the story of Benedict Arnold and the hanging of his co-conspirator Major Andre. 1783 concentrated on the end of the War and the peace negotiations which followed (negotiations which had been pushed for by Burke and his allies in the House). It printed the text of the peace treaty, George III's 1782 speech and the contract between America and the French King to repay 18 million livres of loans. Finally it printed Washington's letter resigning from the Continental Army which had far-reaching influence on American constitutional history.

Together with the other volumes during this period the Annual Register is a very important contemporary source for early American history from the Declaration to peace and on to the Constitution itself. According to Gephart many leading historians of the American Revolutionary period, including David Ramsay, James Murray, and William Gordon "borrowed heavily from the Annual Register"
Gephart 1016, 2565, Lowndes 48, Sabin 1614

Sold for £320
Estimated at £300 - £400


 

Auction: Books, Maps & Ephemera, 4th Dec, 2019

Books, Maps & Ephemera

View all lots in this sale

Sell one like this

If you've got a similar item to sell, complete the valuation form below and one of our experts will get in touch. 

YOUR DETAILS

ITEM DETAILS

Upload images

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.


CONFIRM & SUBMIT