John Melish. A Geographical Description of the United States, with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions, intended as an Accompaniment to Melish's Map of the Countries. Philadelphia: J. Melish, 1816. Second Edition. Octavo. [1]-178 (lacks last leaf). Four single page maps; lacks specimen map at end. As found; original half leather with marbled boards and gold stamping on spine. Ref.: Shaw-Shoemaker, 38220; Walsh, p. 188; Sabin, 47431.

John Melish was the first American publisher to issue exclusively cartographic and geographic items. Born in Scotland, Melish visited the United States several times beginning in 1806, finally deciding to settle here in 1811. Originally Melish intended to go into farming and it was partially to look for good farming land that he traveled over 2,400 miles around the United States before ending up in Philadelphia. While on his travels Melish made copious notes on the lands through which he passed, and in 1812 he published an account of his Travels in the United States of America. This two volume work included eight maps, for as Melish noted in the preface "as I have always considered books of travels to be very defective when unaccompanied by maps, I have spared no labour, nor expence [sic], to have a good set of maps to illustrate this work." These were Melish's first maps and obviously he was inspired by the process of making them, for this was the beginning of his cartographic career. Melish went on to dominate American mapmaking and it was Melish who brought cartography in the United States up to world standards.

In 1815, Melish took the information on travel in the United States which he had compiled and issued it in a compact Traveller's Directory. This consisted of two parts, a geographical description of the United States and a description of the roads throughout the country. This excellent pocket guide was accompanied by four small regional maps of the environs of the four major east coast cities: Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. The very large map of the entire United States was never folded into this small book, and the two are seldom find together. The four city maps and the sprightly text about the states, territories, and British and Spanish possessions next to the United States is a fine picture of the country just at the end of the War of 1812. $450
Go to page with listing of maps by John Melish

Frederick Butler. Memoirs of the Marquis de La Fayette, Major General in the Revolutionary Army of the United States of America together with his Tour of the United States. Wethersfield: Deming & Francis, 1825. 12 mo. 424 pp. 5 plates. Complete. Full calf, rehinged. Typically browned interior. Gold tooling on spine. First edition. Sabin, 9635.

Invited by President James Monroe, the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) toured every state of the Union in 1824-25. This handsome and informative volume was written and issued immediately at the end of this last tour. All five engravings listed in the Table of Contents are present—which includes the intricate image of the “Landing of Gen. Lafayette at Castle Garden, New-York 16 August 1824.” This image was also found on separately issued prints and porcelain plates and pitchers at that time. Other images are a bust portrait, action at Yorktown, with his family in prison, and his estate LaGrange in France. A fine contemporary document. $225

Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall. History of the Indian Tribes of North America, with Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes of the Principle Chiefs. Embellished with One Hundred and Twenty Portraits, from the Indian Gallery in the Department of War, at Washington. Philadelphia: J. T. Bowen. Vol. I, 1848. Vol. II, 1849. Vol. III, 1850. All first edition. Octavo. 120 lithographic plates, each with original hand color. Full leather binding, with gold tooling. Original boards, rebacked. Some rubbing to binding. Interior generally very good condition. Text some light spotting throughout and tissues also somewhat stained. Plates generally clean and bright, though some spotting on first few plates in each volume. Frontispiece of volume II (Red Bird) with chipping and repaired tears on outer edge. Frontispiece of volume III (Prairie on Fire) with a couple chips on outer margin. Overall, very nice set of the very rare first edition octavo set. Denver.

A fine set of first editions of the octavo McKenney and Hall series of Indian portraits. This important American document was primarily the creation of Thomas McKenney, for many years head of the United States Bureau of Indian affairs. McKenney was a champion of the Indian and fought throughout his tenure to preserve something of their culture, so integral a part of the history of the United States. McKenney took office in 1816 and shortly thereafter began to plan an archive which would house Indian memorabilia. In the winter of 1821-22 a large delegation of Indians comprising Pawnee, Sauk, Fox, Menominee, Miami, Sioux, and Chippewa came to Washington to see President Monroe. McKenney took advantage of this opportune time to record their likenesses by commissioning Lewis and King. More paintings were added to these over the years resulting in an impressive gallery of Indian portraiture. In 1830, McKenney was dismissed by President Jackson and at this time began to plan for the publication of a portfolio of prints of these portraits.

The results of years of struggle, McKenney's folio edition of his History was completed 6 years later, Volume I being first published in 1832. This work was a collaborative effort, the text written by James Hall. The magnitude of the project was overwhelming. McKenney battled poverty, politics, and printers to achieve his goal. Although he was acutely aware that he was preserving a chapter in history, he could not have known that had he not undertaken this project that the originals of the gallery would almost all be destroyed in a 1865 fire at the Smithsonian.

Between 1848 and 1850, a reduced, octavo size of the work was issued. As stated in the preface, "This universal approval of the folio edition of the work, has induced the publishers of the present edition to alter the size to royal octavo, and thus place it within reach of the thousands, who, with taste and learning equal to those of the patrons of the large edition, have no less capacity to appreciate its worth and beauties." (p.1) Though smaller, the quality, historic import, and attractiveness of this octavo edition was equal to its big brother and indeed is an easier work to read and enjoy. The set was reissued in subsequent years, but this first edition is very rare and desirable. $24,000
Go to individual McKenney & Hall octavo prints for sale

Henry B. Dawson. Battles of the United States by Sea and Land. Illustrated by Alonzo Chappel. New York: Johnson, Fry & Co., 1860. Two quarto volumes. 38 steel engravings plus two engraved title pages, after paintings and drawings by Alonzo Chappel. Bound in original half leather with stamping in gold. Gilt page ends. The usual scuffing to leather. Some slight staining to the interior.

A superb collection of steel engraved prints accompanying a military history of the United States. The images were drawn by Alonzo Chappel, a noted historical artist who illustrated a number of volumes in the mid-nineteenth century. Included in these two volumes are some portraits of military figures and many battle scenes from the Revolution, War of 1812 and Mexican-American War. As with a large number of publications on the eve of the American Civil War, this one recalled the glories of history to provide a common bond which might help keep the country together. The intention failed, but the product is beautiful. $600

Another example, with new spines and end papers:

Henry B. Dawson. Battles of the United States by Sea and Land. Illustrated by Alonzo Chappel. New York: Johnson, Fry & Co., 1860. Two quarto volumes. 38 steel engravings plus two engraved title pages, after paintings and drawings by Alonzo Chappel. Original boards blind stamped and with gold lettering. New spines and end papers. Some staining to plates and text, especially in volume two. Denver.

A superb collection of steel engraved prints accompanying a military history of the United States. The images were drawn by Alonzo Chappel, a noted historical artist who illustrated a number of volumes in the mid-nineteenth century. Included in these two volumes are some portraits of military figures and many battle scenes from the Revolution, War of 1812 and Mexican-American War. As with a large number of publications on the eve of the American Civil War, this one recalled the glories of history to provide a common bond which might help keep the country together. The intention failed, but the product is beautiful. $600

J[esse] A[mes] Spencer. History of the United States from the Earliest Period to the Administration of President Johnson. 4 vols. New York: Johnson, Fry & Co., 1866. Half leather with gold stamped eagle motif on pebble grain boards; gold stamping on spine with owner's name. Raised bands. Some browning and spotting internally, but overall fine. Collation. I: [i]-xiv, [1]-540, 23 plates. II: [i]-viii, [9]-540, 20 plates. III: [i]-viii, [9]-568, 23 plates. IV: [i]-544, index [i]-xxxviii, 27 plates.

This handsome set in four volumes updates and adds illustrations to the more often seen 1858 edition of three volumes. The last volume describes the coming of Lincoln and the Civil War. The illustrations are steel engravings mostly after paintings by Alonzo Chappel and include 59 depictions of events and 34 portraits. Facsimiles of documents include an early draft of the Declaration of Independence within the text. A lovely and moving history of the United States of America through the first half of the Nineteenth century. $900

Diary of E.Y. Goldsborough, U.S. Marshall in Baltimore for the year 1870. Title page is for “Excelsior Diary for 1870” with wood engraved vignettes showing the four seasons. 12 mo. 108 leaves with hand written entries on almost every page. Very clean in original folding leather binding.

Here is a faithful diarist who made an entry every day, if only to report the weather. Also included in the back is a day by day listing of every payment of moneys. E.Y. Goldsborough’s home was in Frederick, Md., but he worked in Baltimore and made many trips around the state and to Washington, D.C. Goldsborough was active in the G.A.R., did some traveling for that organization to New York and Kentucky, and had meetings twice with President Grant and once with Gen. Sherman. He seldom states why he goes to places, but one can tell by the speed of his conveyance that he is using trains. Goldsborough’s reactions to the appearance of Baltimore on the day that Gen. R.E. Lee died and his involvement in meetings with “colored people” give a flavor to the political and social happenings of the time. A fascinating diary of one year in the life of a Civil War veteran in Baltimore. $300

Picturesque American Scenery. Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 1883. 4to. Twenty-four steel engravings, with original tissue guards. Engravings in excellent condition. Bound in cloth cover with embossed decorative border and title. Board hinges slightly cracked. Otherwise, firm and in very good condition.

This view book contains, "A series of twenty-five beautiful steel engravings from designs by W.H. Bartlett, George L. Brown, and Thomas Moran, with text by N.P. Willis and others." During the 1870s, view books were in high demand due to the great popularity. The two major popular works of this genre in the nineteenth century were William Cullen Bryant's Picturesque America and N. P. Willis' earlier American Scenery. This book of views and accompanying description and poetic text can be seen as part of this lineage of popular American view books, and it borrows the same format as the earlier publications. It is wonderfully illustrated with twenty-one steel engravings by W.H. Bartlett, and one by Thomas Moran. Bartlett particularly associated with the views which appeared in American Scenery, and these plates are taken from that original publication. These prints were extremely popular from the their first appearance, and they established Bartlett's reputation as the premier 'picturesque' travel artist, a reputation he has retained to this day. $425

Horace Greeley. The American Conflict: A History of the Great Rebellion in the United States of America, 1860-’65 . . .. Hartford: O.D. Case, 1885. 2 vols. Quarto. I: 2l. [9]-648; II: [1]-782 with 12 steel engravings with numerous portraits plus many wood engraved illustrations and maps. With the folded map of the United States and Confederate States titled “Map of the Seat of War” by O.D. Case. Blind stamped buckram spines and covers. Very clean. Slight cracking of front hinge of volume one. Else excellent.

The first edition of Greeley’s The American Conflict was published in the years 1865-66. This posthumous printing followed Greeley’s failed presidential campaign and death in 1872, and it is witness to Erik Lunde’s opinion that this history “remains readable and is still important to Civil War scholars.” American National Biography, IX: 469. Few copies have such strong and beautifully printed graphics, the presence of the large folding map in as good a condition as possible, and over all condition is superb. $750

Rudolf Cronau. (1855-1939) Amerika. Die Geschichte seiner Entdectung von der Altesten bis aus die Neueste Zeit. 2 vols. Quarto. Leipzig: Ubel & Muller, 1892. I: [iii]-viii, 480pp., plus 24 full and double pages of prints and maps; II: [iii]-vi, 532pp., plus 31 full and double pages of prints and maps. Original gold stamped red buckram covers and spines. Page ends gilt. Expertly rehinged. Exquisite end pages.

In 1881, Rudolf Cronau (1855-1939) was sent to the United States as a special correspondent for the German newspaper Die Gartenlaube. His assignment was to produce a series of articles documenting American landscapes, cities, Native Americans, and life on the frontier. Cronau traveled all about of the country, writing his articles and producing pen & ink drawings. Upon his return to Germany in 1886, Cronau published, in two parts, a portfolio of collotypes based on his best drawings. Cronau's interest in the United States remained strong and so he produced this illustrated history of America, containing a recapitulation of works from Cortez to Bodmer. The volumes include a number of maps and prints by different artists, but including some of Cronau's own illustrations that appear nowhere else. $650

The American Soldier in the Civil War. The Frank Leslie’s Illustrations. New York: Bryan, Taylor & Co, 1895. Folio. Original buckram binding; loose and with considerable wear. With text and “profusely illustrated” with wood engravings. Interior very good.

Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper was one of the two great American weekly newspapers which visually documented the Civil War. Filled with wood engravings based on drawings made on the spot, these newspapers provided front lines images of the events and personalities of the Civil War for many readers around the country. Leslie’s included some of the most interesting and authentic images of this war, providing a visual record of the conflict which is of inestimable value. Late in the nineteenth century two volumes were issued using the original blocks from Leslie’s accompanied by text written by soldiers and scholars, making these wonderful prints available once again. $350

Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Famous Leaders and Battle Scenes of the Civil War. New York: Mrs. Frank Leslie, 1896. Folio. Original buckram binding; some minor wear. With text and “profusely illustrated” with wood engravings. Interior very good.

Another reissue of the Leslie’s wood-engraved illustrations of the Civil War. $350

Joseph Jackson. Encyclopedia of Philadelphia. Harrisburg: The National Historical Association. 1931-1933. 4 Volumes, 1243 pages. Illustrated. One of a special edition of 400 sets. Blue cloth with titling in gilt on the spine. Clean, tight and overall very good condition.

Joseph Jackson (1867-1946) was the author of nearly a dozen works on Philadelphia history, as well as other historical topics ranging from architecture to the Electoral College. His Encyclopedia is an essential reference work for students of what was, in his time, the third largest city in the United States. $350

Place Order

Pre-1800 Americana

For further information, please contact:

8441 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118 USA
(215) 242-4750 [Phone]
(215) 242-6977 [Fax]
PhilaPrint@PhilaPrintShop.com

©The Philadelphia Print Shop, Ltd. Last updated August 21, 2010