Smith, John
First edition, one of the most important of all the books written about the English colonization of the Americas, Captain Smith's Generall Historie of Virginia ranks as the greatest illustrated work on this period; it includes Smith's eye-witness observations of the founding of the English Colony at Jamestown, his capture by the King of the Pamaunkee, and rescue through the intercession of Pocahontas, occurred during his time spent in Virginia (1606-1609), and his exploration of New England (1610-1617). The Generall Historie is a major American primary source, incorporating much of his early writing as well as contemporary narratives by others.
Further images
Folio, (304 x 200 mm). [14, including title], 1-96, 105-248 pp., plus maps, complete. 19thcentury polished tan calf by Charles (1786-1836) with supralibros of the Musgrave family on front and back boards, likely G. Musgrave, whose library was sold in the 1840s, double gilt fillet to boards, triple gilt ruled board edges and inner dentelles; expertly and simpathetically rebacked, raised bands, all edges gilt, corners refurbished. A few leaves with early marginal paper repairs, no loss to printing: R1, Bb1, Bb2; Dd2 remargined at gutter, printing unaffected, engraved title a bit toned, with minimal paper repairs to edge nicks, no loss.
Provenance:
1) Joseph Haslewood, gilt armorial bookplate, his sale, Evans in Pall Mall, 1833;
2) G. Musgrave, gilt supra libros on covers, Musgrave library sold in the 1840s; armorial bookplate of Joseph Haslewood; Roy V. Boswell, California collector, March 1967; Gregory S. Javitch (1898-1980), of Montreal, noted Russian-born Canadian collector who amassed an important group of books relating to Native Americans (2500 items on what he styled "Peoples of the New World"), covering North and South America, the collection was acquired by Bruce Peel as the cornerstone of the Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta, which also has Javitch's collection of Jesuit Relations. The present book remained in Javitch's private collection.
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