Eighteenth Century American Revolution Imprints
Six rarely-seen original American Revolution pamphlet-format imprints, printed and issued in Philadelphia by Robert Bell and John Dunlap, 1776-1777.
1. Brackenridge, Hugh Henry.
The Battle of Bunkers-Hill. A Dramatic Piece of Five Acts, In Heroic Measure. By a Gentleman of Maryland.
Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Robert Bell, in Third-Street. MDCCLXXVI. [1776]. Published anonymously.
Frontispiece steel engraving: 'The Death of Warren' by Norman SC.
Collation: 1 preliminary leaf + front: 'Frontispiece' plate + 'Dramatis Personae', blank + [5]-49 + [1] (advertisement: November 10, 1776). (Note: pages 31-32 repeated in pagination).
Cm: 19.5 x 12.
Condition: pamphlet, remnants of binding cords, traces of hide glue along spine; lacks 3 preliminary leaves: title page, dedication page, prologue, (photo copies on file), lower edges of frontispiece plate professionally conserved with archival materials, light foxing, occasional spotting, minimal edge wear, a good copy.
Reference: Evans: p. 65, nr. 14668
Note: Hugh Henry Brackenridge (1748-1816); both the "Prologue" and "Epilogue" were written by John Parke (1754-1789) who is identified only as "a Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army" and "a Gentleman of the Army." Note also: Frontispiece "held to be the earliest engraving by a native artist in the American colonies."
{25749} $7500.00
2. Brackenridge, Hugh Henry.
The Death of General Montgomery at the Siege of Quebec. A Tragedy. With an Ode, in honour of the Pennsylvania Militia, and the small band of regular Continental Troops, who sustained the Campaign, in the depth of winter, January 1777, and repulsed the British Forces from the Banks of the Delaware. By the Author of a Dramatic Piece on the Battle of Bunker's-Hill. To Which are Added, Elegiac Pieces, Commemorative of Distinguished Characters.
Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Robert Bell, in Third-Street, Next Door to St. Paul's Church. M,DCC,LXXVII. [1777]. Published anonymously.
Frontispiece steel engraving: 'The Death of Montgomery', by Norman SC.
Collation: 4 preliminary leaves + front: half title, 'The Frontispiece' (explanation) + title page, blank + dedication page ('To Thomas Mifflin, Esquire'), continues verso + 'Preface', continues verso, + 'Frontispiece' plate + [9]-53 + [54-55]-64 + [65-67] + 68-79 + [4] + [1] ('Dramatis Personae'). (Note: page 78 numbered 68 in pagination).
Cm: 19.5 x 12.
Condition: pamphlet, remnants of binding cords, traces of hide glue along spine, lower left corner of frontispiece plate missing, area professionally conserved with archival material, light foxing, no interior marginal tears, a good copy.
Reference: Evans: p. 209, nr. 15249.
Henry Brackenridge (1748-1816).
{25750} $9000.00
3. Pennsylvania, Laws, Statutes.
An Act to Regulate the Militia of the Common-Wealth of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap, In Market Street. M,DCC,LXXVII. [1777].
Collation: 1 preliminary leaf: title page, blank + [3]-32 + 4 ('Supplement to the Act').
Cm: 19.5 x 12.
Condition: pamphlet, remnants of binding cords, traces of hide glue along spine, very lightly foxed, no marginal tears, a very good copy.
Reference: Evans: p. 662, nr. 15503.
{25751} $8000.00
4. Price, Richard.
Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America. To Which Is Added an Appendix, Containing A State of the National Debt, an Estimate of the Money drawn from the Public by the Taxes, and an Account of the National Income and Expenditure since the last War.
London Printed, 1776. Philadelphia: Re printed and Sold by John Dunlap, at the Newest Printing-Office, in Market-Street. MDCCLXXVI. [1776].
Collation: 1 preliminary leaf: title page, 'Advertisement' + 3-71 + [1] (blank).
Cm: 19.5 x 12.
Condition: pamphlet, remnants of binding cords, traces of hide glue along spine, light foxing, no marginal tears, a very good copy.
Reference: Evans: p. 699, nr. 15032.
Richard Price, D.D. F.R.S. (1723-1791).
{25747} $7000.00
5. United States Continental Congress.
Rules and Articles for the Better Government of the Troops Raised, or to be raised and kept in pay by and at the expence of the United States of America.
Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap, in Market-Street. M,DCC,LXXVI. [1776].
Collation:1 preliminary leaf: title page, blank + [3]-36. ( Leaf paginated 35, 36 misplaced).
Cm: 19.5 x 12.
Condition: pamphlet, remnants of binding cords, traces of hide glue along spine, usual foxing, no marginal tears, a very good copy.
Reference: Evans: p. 885, nr. 43194.
{25752} $8000.00
6. Williamson, Hugh.
The Plea of the Colonies On the Charges Brought Against Them by Lord Mansfield, and Others, In a Letter to His Lordship. By a Native of Pennsylvania.
London, Printed in the Year MDCCLXXVI. Philadelphia: Re-Printed and Sold by Robert Bell, in Third-Street. MDCCLXXVII. [1777]. Published anonymously.
Frontispiece steel engraving: Map, captioned: 'The Present State of Europe & America or The Man in the Moon taking a View of the English Armada'.
Collation: 4 preliminary leaves + front: half title, blank + frontispiece plate + 'Explanation of the Frontispiece', blank + title page, blank + 'Preface to the American Edition', continues verso + [1]-38 + [2] (advertisements) + [2] (blanks). (Contemporary signature in ink, final blank: James P. Haskins).
Cm: 19.5 x 12.
Condition: pamphlet, remnants of binding cords, traces of hide glue along spine, very lightly foxed, scattered staining, no marginal tears, a very good copy.
Reference: Evans: p. 685, nr. 15713.
Hugh Williamson (1735-1819).
{25753} $8500.00