The Life of George Washington; with Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honourable to Himself and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen [Revolutionary War Veteran Nicholas Van Rensselaer's copy]

Philadelphia: Printed for the Author, 1809. Very Good. Philadelphia: Printed for the Author, 1809. Eighth Edition -- Greatly Improved. 12mo; contemporary calf with faint gilt ruling to spine; leather title label detached and laid in; 228pp. Seven plates including frontispiece and Washington portrait, collated complete. Wear and scuffing to boards; chipping and shallow loss to base of spine; cracked along bottom of joints; corners bumped; front board bowed towards fore-edge; binding sound; toning and minor chipping to pages; larger chip and brief loss of meaning to bottom corner of pp. 83-84; Good to Very Good. 

Notably this copy bears three ownership signatures of Nicholas Van Rensselaer, who, in his obituary in 1848, is noted as a "venerable relic of the Revolution" and is described as being with Montgomery at the storming of Quebec, at Ticonderoga, Fort Miller, and conveying the intelligence of the surrender of Burgoyne to Albany. A lovely association copy of the first biography of Washington, which Weems revised and republished for several years after its initial publication circa 1800. Weems is responsible for many apocryphal stories surrounding Washington, such as the "I cannot tell a lie" quote and the cherry tree tale. 

Sabin 102486.