THE HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Boston, 1792. Three volumes. viii,362,[ciii]; 493,[1]; 480,[8]pp., plus folding map bound in as frontispiece in first volume. Early 20th-century sheep and marbled boards, spines gilt, leather labels. Extremities lightly worn. Later ownership inscription on front pastedowns. Some offsetting to titlepage of first volume from map; map lightly foxed and with starting tear at inner margin. Minor soiling and foxing. Very good. Second edition of the first volume, first edition of the second and third volumes, as is often the case in this work. The first extensive history of New Hampshire, and "one of the most important eighteenth-century American histories," according to Streeter. The first two volumes trace the history of New Hampshire, while the third discusses the geography, natural history, society, laws, government, etc. The author was a determined antiquarian and founder of the first American historical association, the Massachusetts Historical Society. Tocqueville praised Belknap's history, saying, "The reader of Belknap will find more general ideas and more strength of thought, than are to be met with in other American historians, even to the present day" (quoted in Larned). EVANS 24087, 23166, 24088. STREETER SALE 715 (vol. 1 only). SABIN 18344. HOWES B323, "aa." LARNED 3128. BAL 922, 928, 930. WHEAT & BRUN 183. REESE & OSBORN, STRUGGLE FOR NORTH AMERICA 90 (ref).