THE HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF MASSACHUSETS- BAY, FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT THEREOF IN 1628 UNTIL ITS INCORPORATION WITH THE COLONY OF PLYMOUTH, PROVINCE OF MAIN, &C. BY THE CHARTER OF KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY, IN 1691. BY MR. HUTCHINSON, LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF THE MASSACHUSETS PROVINCE.
Boston, New-England: Printed by Thomas & John Fleet, 1764. [iv], iv, 566 pp. Original sheep, raised spine bands, front cover detached but present. A Very Good text with mild foxing.
This is the first edition of the first volume of Hutchinson's history of Massachusetts, "a work of permanent value...indispensable in any American collection" [Sabin]. The two other contemporary volumes, and a fourth volume [published posthumously in 1828] are not included in this offering.
In the preface, Hutchinson writes that "the repeated destruction of ancient records and papers, by fire in the town of Boston, first inclined me to endeavor the preservation of such materials as remained proper for an history of the Massachusets [sic] colony."
This first volume discusses the early years of the colony, from its first settlement in 1628, up to 1691. "Besides being a colonial historian, Hutchinson was governor of Massachusetts from 1771 to 1773 and a staunch Loyalist. He left Boston for London in late 1773, after his actions were one of the precipitating causes of the Boston Tea Party, and remained in exile in England until his death in 1780" [Reese].
Sabin 34069020, 34075, 34082. Evans 9705, 10658, 11300; Howes H-853; Adams, The American Controversy, 64-11a, 67-7a; Reese, The Struggle for North America 65; ESTC W20456. Item #42437
Price: $1,250.00