The Fortunate Discovery - photo 1
The Fortunate Discovery - photo 2

The Fortunate Discovery

Lot 208
16.06.2023 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 3 528
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 967404
Lot 208 | The Fortunate Discovery
Estimate value
$ 2 000 – 3 000
The Fortunate Discovery: or, the History of Henry Villars. By a Young Lady of the State of New-York. New-York: Printed by R. Wilson, for Samuel Campbell, 1798.

The rare first edition, in a contemporary binding, of this anonymous wartime romance set in Manhattan and the Hudson Valley during the final months of the Revolution. The author, identified only as a "Young Lady of the State of New-York," has never been identified. The novel, which has a Loyalist slant, tells the story of a British officer, Henry Hargrave, who realizes he is the long-lost son of Mr & Mrs Villars. The story ends with him receiving his inheritance and, along with his soldier friend, getting married: the two sets of newlyweds depart New York together after the war and return to England. Uncommon at auction: according to RBH, only two other copies have appeared in the past 100 years. Evans 33744; Sabin 106142; Wright 975.

12mo (167 x 95). (Lacking front endpaper, minor staining at a few margins.) Contemporary sheep, red spine label (some rubbing). Provenance: deleted signature to front endpaper.
Place of origin:USA
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
16.06.2023
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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