James Cummins Bookseller

First History of Virginia Printed in Virginia

The History of the First Discovery and Settlement of Virginia: Being an Essay Towards a General History of this Colony ... [Bound with:] An Appendix to the First Part of the History of Virginia.

(Virginia) Stith, William.

Williamsburg: William Parks, 1747 [i.e. circa 1753].

Price: $9,500.00

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About the item

First edition, third issue. viii,304,295-331,[1]; v,[1],34pp. 8vo. Early calf, rebacked, worn at extremities. Hinges reinforced with linen tape, some signatures toned. Berg, Williamsburg Imprints 58; Howes S1014, "b." Swem 5325; Evans 6071; Sabin 91860.

Item #378294

One of the first American histories to be written and printed in the British colonies, and the first such in Virginia. Stith, who was well connected in the colony, had access to numerous important sources, including the library of William Byrd of Westover. The history runs up to 1624, and is all that Stith published of this work. A nephew of Sir John Randolph, he had access to a number of manuscript sources as well, including a transcript of the records of the Virginia Company, and copies of records from Virginia courts. Printing began in Virginia when William Parks established his press at Williamsburg in 1730. This is one of the earliest accessible Virginia imprints, and one of the most interesting. Sabin notes that signature X is always printed on bad paper, as here.

First edition, third issue, with corrections to pagination and bound with the appendix as issued.