Henry Lee. MEMOIRS OF THE WAR IN THE SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 2 vols. (complete). Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep; Inskeep and Bradford, 1812. First edition. Full leather with gilt-titled red morocco label and gilt-stamped volume number on the spines. 8vo; [4], 423; [4], 486pp. Both volumes with half-titles and portrait frontispieces. Howes L202; Sabin 39743.

8 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.

Henry Lee (1756-1818) was a politician and the father of Robert E. Lee. He served under General Washington in the American Revolutionary War, and it was his time in battle that led to his well-known nickname, Light-Horse Harry Lee. He wrote Memoirs during his time in debtor's prison in the last decade of his life.

Age wear to boards including scuffs and small leather losses, with edgewear and bumped corners, vol. I with several small wormholes; joints rubbed with cracking at front joint of vol. I and cracking starting on vol. II; vol. I spine with partial loss of tail label, chips and losses at head with loose headband, vol. II spine with full loss of tail label with headband and leather loss at head, gilt significantly rubbed on both volumes; both with paste-downs with small area of writing and bookplates removed, hinge cracking with volumes still sturdy, wormholes at endpapers and several early leaves; pages lightly toned with foxing including frequent larger spotting, consistent small areas of damp staining at margins throughout, with scattered grime and stains, and occasional minor hole, small chips, or tear, (2) leaves in vol. I with small corner loss not impacting text, vol. II with minor manufacturing flaw on p. 84. A good, solid copy of this first edition set.