Lot 53: SMITH, William (1728-1793). The History of the Province of New-York, From the First Discovery

SMITH, William (1728-1793). The History of the Province of New-York, From the First Discovery to the Year M.DCC.XXXII. To which is annexed, A Description of the Country... London: Thomas Wilcox, 1757.

4 o (285 x 230 mm). Folding engraved frontispiece "The South View of Oswego on Lake Ontario," by Mynde. (Frontispiece neatly remargined, scattered stains to title and some other leaves, minor marginal soiling.) Modern half diced calf and marbled boards antique, gilt spine.

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST HISTORY OF NEW YORK, ONE OF ONLY A FEW COPIES ON LARGE AND THICK PAPER. A PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed on the corner of title: "a Gift of the Author to his Friend Samuel Holland." A significant association copy of an important work. The recipient, one of the foremost cartographers in the American colonies, had served as an army officer and surveyor, mapping parts of Canada, New England and New York, and, after the Seven Years' War, was named Surveyor-General of Virginia. Holland contributed maps to Joseph Des Barre's Atlantic Neptune, and a map of New York and New Jersey to Thomas Jeffreys's American Atlas. William Smith, a Yale graduate and distinguished New York attorney, was professionally involved in significant litigation over New York frontier lands, which may explain the connection with Holland. Smith was a loyalist during the Revolution (though he was consulted in the drafting of New York's new constitution!) and eventually went to Canada, where he served as Chief Justice. A manuscript continuation of his history was published in 1826 by the New-York Historical Society. Church 1023; Howes S-703; Sabin 84566; Streeter II:871 ("first and classic history of New York").