Peirce, Ebenezer W., Indian History, Biography and Genealogy: Pertaining to the Good Sachem Massasoit of the Wampanoad Tribe and His Descendants; with an Appendix ~ North Abington, Massachusetts, 1878, published by Zerviah Gould Mitchell; 261 (+xv) pages, with eleven full-page line-engravings.

(click photos to see larger images ~ click back arrow to return to description)

The publisher, Zerviah Gould Mitchell (Mrs. Thomas C. Mitchell), was a native American. Her Preface to the book begins: "My object in bringing this work before the public is not only to show that I am a lineal descendant, in the seventh generation, from the great and good Massasoit [King Philip] whom both the red and white man now venerate and honor but also to make record of the wrongs which during all these generations have been endured by my race..."

According to Spirit of the New England Tribes by William Scranton Simmons: Mrs. Mitchell was one of the last of her lineage to reside on a tiny reservation in Lakeville Massachusetts where she and her daughter continued the aborginal tradition of straw basket-making. Pierce, a celebrated Civil War veteran and General in the United States Army, "accepted the task of being her assistant" in composing this historical record of the southern New England tribes and the reign of Massasoit (who is known as King Philip).

Our 1878 first edition has a mid-20th century guarded-binding of green cloth with gilt spine-lettering, complete and in very good condition, all plates present. Original front leaves (torn & stained, w/period ownership marks) have been bound in as provenance. Frontispieces and title page have small edge-tears and light staining; the book has about two dozen turned corners and occasional tobacco-ash ~ else an exceptionally well-preserved copy.

Very scarce documentation of the native American recollection and point-of-view.

Price: SOLD
Offered by Lightgate Books
tel: 802-375-9611
email: lightgatebooks@aol.com

A Descriptive Sketch Of The Present State Of Vermont by J.A. Graham, L.L.D., Late Lieutenant-Colonel in the Service of the Above State. London, 1797.

First Edition, 186 (+vii) pages plus 6-line errata page and half-title. Errata neatly corrected in a period hand. Eight small woodcuts of Vermont scenes, some hand-colored. Lacking frontispiece portrait of the author. Original orange boards, rebacked in brown-calf with gilt-embossed label. Foxing and stains to title page, many pages show handling-stains, else book is complete and in respectable shape throughout. Not a library book. Howes G-288, CHURCH 1275. A fascinating reading experience, which might well go under the category "Travels and Explorations" of the former British possession which became the 14th U.S. state in 1791, and the first after the original Thirteen Colonies.

"The text is in the form of letters, the first three of which are devoted to a general description of the country; 4-9, to Bennington County; 10-15, to Rutland County; 16-17, to Windham County; 18-25 are each devoted to one of the smaller counties. The last chapter relates to the revenue of the State" - Church.

(click photos to see larger images ~ note: if you see a small magnifying glass,
click again to see largest image)

Price: SOLD
Offered by Lightgate Books (this item net to all)
tel: 802-375-9611
email: lightgatebooks@aol.com

JOURNAL OF THE CONVENTION FOR FRAMING A CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, from the Commencement of Their First Session September 1, 1779, to the Close of Their Last Session, June 16, 1780. Including a List of the Members.

Boston, Dutton and Wentworth, 1832. First Edition, 264 pages, full original leather with new back, original spine label. 19th century label of Wayland Library on front pastedown. Clean and unmarked throughout. Includes complete list of Massachusetts towns and the names of their representatives to the 1779-80 convention. The exceptional preservation of this copy, the look and feel of the original leather, plus the attractive rebacking make this a wonderful addition to any library of New England historical documents.

(click photos to see large images)

Price: SOLD
Offered by Lightgate Books (this item net to all)
tel: 802-375-9611
email: lightgatebooks@aol.com

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS; A Narrative of 1757. By the Author of "The Pioneers." Philadelphia, B.C. Carey & I. Lea, 1831.

1831 Fourth Edition, two volumes in original paper-covered boards. Volume one 262 pages with Preface and four page advertisement for Encyclopedia Americana. Volume two 260 pages. In all essentials this set is identical to the 1826 first edition, with corrections -- what today might be called the "4th printing". It is the last printing prior to Cooper's revised edition.

Condition: all pages wrinkled from the edges in, and for the most part clean, white and crisp with occasional light staining and with very little foxing ~ Vol One: pages 74-76 stained from pressed flowers, also 104-105; insect holes in front endpapers and pages 93-96 (not affecting text), 127-34 (text a little affected); pages 137-48 both pressed flowers & insects (numerous small holes in text area do not affect readability), same for pages 152-58, with two large stains and several larger insect holes; foxing pages 252-59 ~ Vol Two: tear across page 105, page complete & can be mended; page 253 missing upper corner, text not affected; volume two was not used by milady to press flowers ~ original labels still present on both spines ~

It would be wonderful if these books were perfect, or better yet first editions worth tens of thousands of dollars. What they are is a very scarce edition and an historical artifact of the period, an early printing of one of the most widely read American novels of the nineteenth century.

(click photos to see larger images)

Price: SOLD
plus shipping & insurance
Offered by Lightgate Books
(seller discount inquire)
tel: 802-375-9611
email: lightgatebooks@aol.com

THE FEDERALIST or The New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788, by Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Madison, and Mr. Jay: with an Appendix Containing the Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius etc. A New Edition, the Numbers Written by Mr. Madison Corrected by Himself.

Hallowell, Maine, 1826, printed and published by Glazier & Co., 582 pages. Original full pressure-decorated leather with new ribbed spine and gilt-embossed label. With the bookplate and signature of Thomas Francis Richardson. Originally published in 1788, in 1802 the work was revised, and in 1818 it was again revised. This early and scarce 1826 edition follows the text of the 1818 Gideon edition, which was the first to contain Madison's notes and corrections.

Condition: marbled edges have lost color, front corners exposed, front-free endpaper a bit ragged, first signature of book water-stained at bottom, light damp-staining pgs 352-70 ~ otherwise exceptionally well-preserved throughout, with usual toning, no foxing to speak of, and only occasional minor flaws ~ classic sheepskin binding bears the authentic signs of age ~

(click photo to see larger image)

Price: SOLD
plus shipping & insurance
Offered by Lightgate Books
(seller discount inquire)
tel: 802-375-9611
email: lightgatebooks@aol.com