The History of the American Revolution.

'the beginnings of an American national historical consciousness'

The first edition of one of the first major histories of the American Revolutionary War, in a contemporary sheepskin binding.

David Ramsay (1749-1815) was an early opponent of British policy, serving in the South Carolina legislature during the war. He was arrested following the siege of Charlestown in 1780 and exiled to St. Augustine, Florida. He later served two terms in the Confederation Congress, including as its acting president from 1785-1786. As a politician, Ramsay was strongly suspected of holding pro-abolitionist views, and was one of the few legislators in South Carolina to support John L4aurens's plans to enlist black soldiers in the Whig militia.

This History draws on materials Ramsay collected as a member of Congress, which allowed him 'access to all the official papers of the United States' (Preface). 'If any one work marked the beginnings of an American national historical consciousness, it was Ramsay's History of the American Revolution (1789). From 1789 to 1865 it went through six American editions, including a serialization in the Columbian Magazine, as well as two English, two French, and Irish, German, and Dutch editions' (ANB).

From the library of the Edinburgh merchant Samuel Paterson. The 'Lukenbooths' ('locking booths' or possibly woollen cloth booths, from the Flemish luken) were a row of irregular tenements and shops located along the North face of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh and were the Old Town's main shopping area.

First edition; 2 vols; 8vo (21 x 13.5 cm); p.iv misnumbered 'vi' in vol. II, library stamp to title of both vols, bookplate and old library label to front pastedowns, ink stain to verso of final f. of text of vol. II, offsetting to endpapers and title margins, text slightly toned, lower corner of title torn with slight loss; contemporary sheepskin, edges sprinkled blue, contrasting red morocco lettering pieces and volume labels to spines, joints expertly restored, very good; vi, 320, 323-359, [1]; iv, 360pp.

ESTC W31464; Evans 22090; Sabin 67687.