William Smith. THE HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW-YORK, FROM THE FIRST DISCOVERY TO THE YEAR M.DCC.XXXII. London: Printed for Thomas Wilcox, 1757. First edition. Full leather, with raised bands and gilt-titled red morocco label on the spine. 4to; [i-vii], viii-xii, 255, [1]pp. With engraved folding plate showing "The South View of Oswego on Lake Ontario" by Mynde, dedication, and preface. Howes S703; ESTC T36514; Sabin 84566.

10 1/8 x 7 7/8 in.

This book offers the first history of New York, as well as a geographical description of the colony, a discussion of politics, and more.

Boards are age-worn with edgewear, leather rubbed and with occasional chips and insect damage, corners bumped, joints rubbed with cracking at tail of front joint, spine with lettering lightly rubbed, tear to leather at head, and losses to leather at tail; remnants of bookplate on front paste-down and wormholes in corner of rear paste-down, front hinge cracked although volume still sturdy and rear hinge reinforced, free endpapers with fraying, one sticker, ownership signature, and damp staining, first free endpaper cut and mostly detached; pages overall lightly toned with scattered foxing, occasional light fraying, grime/stains, pencil marginalia, and minor damp stains; a beautifully restored plate with small repairs visible; heavier marks on pgs. 244-245, ownership signature on p. 254, pgs. 241-248 with small damp stain at margin, final (3) leaves more significantly tattered with no loss to text; lacking rear endpapers, otherwise a complete copy of this important book on colonial history. A good copy for its age.