Notes on the State of Virginia (1803)
Description
Notes on the State of Virginia (1803)
by Thomas Jefferson
Full Title: Notes on the State of Virginia. With an Appendix : Relative to the Murder of Logan’s Family.
7 x 4 ½. In English. Trenton : Printed by Wilson & Blackwell, for Mathew Carey, Philadelphia, 1803. Early edition. Complete with all pages *** to include both folding plates. *** (References: Sabin 35905; Howes J 78; Bernstein, Thomas Jefferson; Shaw & Shoemaker 4446; Graff 2202 (Fr ed). Original calf binding. Hinges excellent. Light shelf wear to extremities. Moderate to heavy staining to pastedowns and endpapers. Text block, save for the Jefferson frontis and title page, spared. Otherwise, light foxing and isolated stains of no great consequence. A very pleasing copy: The text with virtually no signs of use, and the binding is sound. Early editions are not commonly seen in the marketplace. This 1803 was the first edition that included an appendix relating to the murder of Mingo Indian leader Logan by Michael Cresap (Sabin). Also, this particular example is exceedingly rare given it includes the map that is most often found to be removed! Very desirable!
Thomas Jefferson’s ‘Notes on the State of Virginia’ was his written response to various questions he had been asked about Virginia by French secretary Francois Barbe-Marbois. This work is regularly considered the most important American book published before 1800 (Bernstein). It gives insight to Jefferson’s views on slavery, important laws, powers given to the people and the government, as well as how to exhaust resources reserved for the military. This book instilled fear in many slave owners, out of fear that their ‘property’ would be taken from them, and that an emancipation would become imminent. In addition to the more controversial topics, Jefferson discussed the geography and topography of Virginia, religious views of Colonial America, and important state-papers. This is the only book-length work by Jefferson to be published in his lifetime, and has been called "one of America's first permanent literary and intellectual landmarks." It was largely written in 1781 and first published in Paris, in French, in 1785.
Price: $2,000
Shipping: FREE via USPS Priority Mail
Inventory Number: 81275
Questions? E-mail cliffordsrarebooks@gmail.com or call Eric @ (619) 550-6119
.