first edition
1849 · London
by Strachey, William
London: Hakluyt Society, 1849. First Edition. Good+ in its original patterned, green cloth covered boards with four simulated raised bands on the spine with gilt text and with a gilt stamped image of 17th century vessel on the front board which is highlighted with blind embossing on both boards. An octavo of 8 3/4 by 5 1/2 inches with the cloth at the head and heel spine worn down to the edges of the text block. The spine strip is considerably darker than the cloth on the boards. The upper fore corner of the rear board is chipped by 1/4". The cloth over the joints is heavily worn, the front hinge has been reinforced and the rear hinge has cracked, but the binding is holding with no loose pages or signatures. The contents are modestly foxed at the beginning and end pages, but otherwise clean and free of foxing or tanning. 203 pages including an index, "A Dictionarie of The Indian Language" and text. Illustrated with a facsimile of important signatures,a fold-out map and five plates. "Edited from the original manuscript,in the British Museum by R. Hl Major, of the British Museum." The content of the manuscript and this volume cover a period ranging over 1610, 1611 and 1612. Considered by Howes to be "quite scarce". As Thomas D. Clark states in his bibliography, Travels in the Old South: "Strachey was the first secretary of the colony of Virginia, Charles M. Andrews calls him 'the first historian of Virgiina.' The book is well written and interesting." (Howes, S-1053; Clark, I,157))
(Inventory #: TB29919)