A Review of the Military Operations in North-America, from The Commencement of the French Hostilities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Oswego, on the 14th of August, 1756 - photo 1
A Review of the Military Operations in North-America, from The Commencement of the French Hostilities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Oswego, on the 14th of August, 1756 - photo 2

A Review of the Military Operations in North-America, from The Commencement of the French Hostilities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Oswego, on the 14th of August, 1756

Lot 52
17.01.2024 11:00UTC -05:00
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$ 7 560
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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ID 1119106
Lot 52 | A Review of the Military Operations in North-America, from The Commencement of the French Hostilities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Oswego, on the 14th of August, 1756
Estimate value
$ 3 000 – 5 000
A Review of the Military Operations in North-America, from The Commencement of the French Hostilities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Oswego, on the 14th of August, 1756

First American edition, 1758

[SMITH, William (1728-1793), attributed to]. A Review of the Military Operations in North-America, from The Commencement of the French Hostilities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Oswego, on the 14th of August, 1756. New England [New Haven: James Parker?]: 1758.



First American edition of one of the best accounts of the early years of the French and Indian War. It was first published in London in 1757 by R. and J. Dodsley. The book is largely a vindication of General Shirley, and much of the information was supplied by his secretary, William Alexander. The part relating to the Lake George campaign of 1755 is important contemporary source material. In addition to this, the book "was also a highly partisan account of New York politics. Smith painted DeLancey as a highly astute and unscrupulous politician who had won complete control over the political life of New York and who had sacrificed any royal official or imperial policy blocking his way. Because no printer in New York would dare print such a libel, the first edition appeared in London. There it had been seen through the press by William Alexander, secretary to Shirley and the man responsible for the release of the secret military information in the book" (McAnear). On this first American edition, both the author and the printer are anonymous. McAnear attributes authorship to William Smith; DAB to William Livingston Smith and John Morin Scott. RARE: there is only one other copy of the first American edition in the auction records of RBH. Evans 8163; Howes L-401 ("b", under Livingston); Sabin 41649. McAnear, Beverly. "American imprints concerning King's College." In: Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America, 1950, pp.334-335.



Quarto (194 x 148mm). Half-title (stained). (Browning, a few leaves with pale dampstain, without final blank.) Modern speckled calf gilt to style by Bayntun (boards a little bowed). Provenance: Edward Green (contemporary ownership signatures on half-title, title, p.5 and p.23).

Artist:William Smith (1728 - 1793)
Auction house category:Printed books
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