The Life of George Washington by John Marshall, First Edition, 5 Vol., 1804-1807

View Similar Items

Albert J. BEVERIDGE. The Life Of John Marshall. 4 vols IN A FINE LEATHER BINDING

Wrightsman Collection, Vols I-V, First Editions, Signed by the Wrightsmans

My Experiences in the World War, by John Pershing, First Edition, Two Vols, 1931

Thomas Hardy, Return of the Native, First Edition First Issue, 1878, 3 Vols

CHURCHILL. History of The English Speaking Peoples - ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols

William Godwin, Faulkener, a Tragedy, First Edition, 1807

25 Vols. George Eliot. The Writings and Life

The Life of George Washington by Jared Sparks, Later Printing, 1854

A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer by Frederick Whittaker, First Edition

The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck, First Edition

'The Life of Nelson" First Edition books by Robert Southey

First Edition Guthrie's Geographical Grammmar in Miniature, 1807

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 5

The Life of George Washington by John Marshall, First Edition, 5 Vol., 1804-1807

About the Item

Marshall, John. The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces, During the War which Established the Independence of His Country, and First President of the United States. Philadelphia: C.P. Wayne, 1804-1807. First Edition. Five Volumes. Octavos. In later full calf, rebacked, with black and red Moroccan spine labels lettered in gilt. Books held in a new archival cloth slipcase. Presented is the first edition of John Marshall’s seminal biography of George Washington, in five volumes. Published in Philadelphia by C. Wayne, from 1804 to 1807, this desirable set is presented in later full-calf boards, with black and red Moroccan leather spine labels lettered in gilt and a new archival cloth slipcase. Shortly after Marshall became Chief Justice, he was approached by Washington’s nephew, Bushrod, to write the first president’s official biography. Probably no man was better suited to the task. As a personal friend of Washington, Marshall had been the one to announce the President’s death in 1799, offered the eulogy, chaired the committee that arranged the funeral rites, and led the commission to plan a monument in the capital city. When Marshall’s Life of Washington appeared, it was considered so authoritative that Washington scholar, Jared Sparks, suggested any new biographical undertaking would be “presumptuous” (Sparks, Washington I:12). The work "is political history as well as biography… the only comprehensive account by a great statesman of the full founding of the United States— of the founding of an independent people as well as of its government… There is no other concentrated history of the essentials by such an authority on American institutions" (Robert K. Faulkner). "If George Washington founded the country, John Marshall defined it" (Jean Edward Smith). Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait of Washington was made known to the general public through the stipple-engraved frontispiece included in this five volume set. The engraving was done by Philadelphia engraver, David Edwin. Edwin was "for upwards of 30 years, the most prolific workman in America" (Fielding, 109). This first edition set, together with the first English edition of the same years, are "the only complete editions of this indispensable work” as the sections on colonial history were omitted in the later American editions (Sabin). The atlas volume, issued later, is not present here. CONDITION: In good condition. 5 volumes. Octavos. In later full calf , rebacked, with black and red Moroccan leather spine labels, lettered in gilt. Some rubbing to edges, scuffing to spines. Stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait. Offsetting to full title page from engraving. Interior pages are in good condition, with only scattered foxing and occasional toning to the text block. Presented with a new archival cloth slipcase, lined, with ribbon pull, gilt embossed facsimile signature and inlaid portrait of Washington on the front. Ref: Howes M317; Sabin 44788.

Dimensions:
Height: 8.63 in (21.93 cm)Width: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Leather,Paper
Period:
1800-1809
Date of Manufacture:
1804-1807
Condition:
Repaired: Rebacked. Additions or alterations made to the original: Presented with a new archival cloth slipcase, lined, with ribbon pull, gilt embossed facsimile signature and inlaid portrait of Washington on the front. Slipcase done in April 2022 by Felton Bookbinding Ltd., Canada. Wear consistent with age and use. In later full calf , rebacked. Some rubbing to edges, scuffing to spines. Stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait. Offsetting to full title page from engraving. Interior pages are in good condition, with only scattered foxing and occasional toning.
Seller Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Reference Number:
Seller: BK08831stDibs: LU909728456682

More From This Seller

View All

My Experiences in the World War, by John Pershing, First Edition, Two Vols, 1931

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Pershing, John J. My Experiences in the World War. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1931. First Edition. Two Volume Set. Rebound in 1/4 leather and cloth boards, with raised ba...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

My Experiences in the World War, by John Pershing, First Edition, Two Vols, 1931

$2,500

The Life of George Washington by Jared Sparks, Later Printing, 1854

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Sparks, Jared. The Life of George Washington. Auburn and Buffalo: Miller Orton & Mulligan, 1854. Later printing. Two volumes in one. Octavo. Rebound in 1/4 brown leather and cloth boards, with gilt titles, tooling, and raised bands. New archival cloth slipcase. Presented is a later edition of Jared Sparks’ esteemed biography, The Life of George Washington. First published in 1839, Sparks’ The Life of George Washington is one of the earliest and most intimate biographies of our first President. This printing was published in Auburn and Buffalo by Miller Orton & Mulligan, in 1854. Impressively detailed, the biography is embellished with 14 engraved plates of portraits, views, and battle plans...

Category

Antique 1850s American Federal Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

The Life of George Washington by Jared Sparks, Later Printing, 1854

$1,950

A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer by Frederick Whittaker, First Edition

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Whittaker, Frederick. A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer, Major-General of Volunteers, Brevet Major-General U.S. Army, and Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh U.S. Cavalry. New York: She...

Category

Antique 1870s American High Victorian Books

Materials

Paper

A Popular Life of Gen. George A. Custer by Frederick Whittaker, First Edition

$1,300

Lee's Lieutenants by Douglas Southhall Freeman, Three Vols., First Edition, 1942

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Freeman, Douglas Southall. Lee’s Lieutenants: A Study in Command. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1942. First edition. Three volume set. Rebound in ¼ black leather and cloth, with raised bands, gilt tooling and titles to the spine, and an archival slipcase. Presented is a first edition, three volume set of Lee’s Lieutenants by Douglas Southall Freeman...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

Lee's Lieutenants by Douglas Southhall Freeman, Three Vols., First Edition, 1942

$4,250

Eulogies and Orations on the Life and Death of General George Washington, 1800

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Paine, Thomas, et al. Eulogies and Orations on the Life and Death of General George Washington, First President of the United States of America. Boston: Manning & Loring, 1800. First...

Category

Antique Early 1800s American Federal Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

Eulogies and Orations on the Life and Death of General George Washington, 1800

$3,500

Journals of the First and Second Continental Congress, by R. Aitken, Vol I, 1776

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Journals of Congress. Containing the Proceedings From Sept. 5. 1774. to Jan. 1. 1776. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by R. Aitken, 1777. Volume I. First Edition. 8vo. Rebound in ¼ br...

Category

Antique 1770s American American Colonial Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

Journals of the First and Second Continental Congress, by R. Aitken, Vol I, 1776

$5,500

Vintage 1910s American Books

Materials

Leather

Albert J. BEVERIDGE. The Life Of John Marshall. 4 vols IN A FINE LEATHER BINDING

$1,600 / set

Wrightsman Collection, Vols I-V, First Editions, Signed by the Wrightsmans

By F.J.B. Watson, Carl C. Dauterman, Everett Fahy

Located in valatie, NY

The Wrightsman collection, Vols. I-V. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1966-1973. First edition hardcovers with dust jackets. 2248 pp. Inscribed by the Wrightsmans. The complete series of The Wrightsman collection catalogues from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jayne and Charles Wrightsman, who, in a relatively short period of time—beginning in 1952—amassed the finest private collection in America of the decorative arts of the Ancien Régime (15th c until 1792). Throughout the years the Wrightsmans' active interest in the Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts has resulted in splendid gifts that have enabled the Museum to create an unparalleled and truly encyclopaedic collection of French 18th c...

Category

20th Century American Books

Materials

Paper

Wrightsman Collection, Vols I-V, First Editions, Signed by the Wrightsmans

$1,150 / set

Thomas Hardy, Return of the Native, First Edition First Issue, 1878, 3 Vols

Located in Hillsborough, NJ

AUTHOR: HARDY, Thomas. TITLE: The Return of the Native. PUBLISHER: London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1878. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION FIRST ISSUE. 3 vols., 7-1/4" x 4-15/16", (without the quotation marks...

Category

Antique 1870s British Books

Materials

Leather

Thomas Hardy, Return of the Native, First Edition First Issue, 1878, 3 Vols

$3,250 / set

CHURCHILL. History of The English Speaking Peoples - ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols

Located in Hillsborough, NJ

AUTHOR: CHURCHILL, Winston. TITLE: A History of The English-Speaking Peoples. PUBLISHER: London: Cassell and Co, Ltd., 1956-8. DESCRIPTION: ALL FIRST LONDON EDITIONS. 4 volumes, ...

Category

Vintage 1950s British Books

Materials

Leather

CHURCHILL. History of The English Speaking Peoples - ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols

$2,500 / set

William Godwin, Faulkener, a Tragedy, First Edition, 1807

Located in Hillsborough, NJ

AUTHOR: GODWIN, William. TITLE: Faulkener: a Tragedy. London: for Richard Phillips, 1807. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., 8" x 5-3/16", (ii...

Category

Antique Early 1800s British Books

Materials

Leather

William Godwin, Faulkener, a Tragedy, First Edition, 1807

$2,400

25 Vols. George Eliot. The Writings and Life

Located in New York, NY

25 Volumes. George Eliot. The Writings & Life by J.W. Cross. Large Paper Edition, limited to 750 copies, this is #82.Bound in 3/4 brown morocco, marbled boards and endpapers, top edg...

Category