John Smith. THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF VIRGINIA, NEW-ENGLAND, AND THE SUMMER ISLES: WITH THE NAMES OF THE ADVENTURERS, PLANTERS, AND GOVERNOURS FROM THEIR FIRST BEGINNING ANO: 1584 TO THIS PRESENT 1626. London: Printed by I.D. and I.H. for Michael Sparkes, 1627. Sabin's third state of engraved title page; engraving signed "Grauen by John Barra" in lower right corner. Later half leather over marbled paper-covered boards, spine blind-stamped with raised bands and gilt-titled black morocco label. Folio; π )(2 A-N4 P-2I4; [14 including title], 1-96, 105-248pp. Lacking plates. With printed marginalia, decorated initials, and head- and tail-pieces. Engraved portrait of Smith, "The Portraictuer of Captayne John Smith Admirall of New England," pasted on front free endpaper verso. Church 411; Sabin 82827; ESTC S111885; Arents Tobacco 164.

10 5/8 x 7 3/8 in.

Captain John Smith (England, 1580-1631) helped to establish the colony of Jamestown, Virginia, and then later explored both the Chesapeake Bay and New England. He published numerous accounts about his explorations in North America, providing considerable information about early English colonization. This book, first published in 1624, discusses Virginia, New England, and Bermuda (Somers Isles), with observations of other voyagers to North America, Smith's account of his time in Virginia, discoveries and accidents in Virginia, a discussion of Pocahontas, a history of Bermuda, a description of New England, and more.

Boards scuffed and scratched with areas of rubbing, with edgewear, staining, and heavily rubbed corners; light creasing at rear joint and rubbing and cracking at upper joint, spine scuffed with small chips and ends rubbed; writing in pen and pencil at endpapers with ownership signature of Sarah Permelia on front free endpaper, lacking a front and rear endpaper; cracking at hinges; title attached to dedication at inner margin, with repair remnants at inner margins, small stains, fraying (impacting image at top edge), a small tear, and later hand-coloring; final contents leaf with small loss and separation at head; (2) pages with corner loss not impacting text, and final leaf with tears, creases, and a small loss at upper margin slightly impacting text; pages toned with scattered light grime, stains, and marginalia/underlining, and occasional frayed edge, tiny burn hole, tear, or small chip (rarely impacting text), with some variation in paper thickness and some leaves trimmed close at head; damp staining, with sixth and final book with especially heavy damp staining. A famous and significant primary source on early American history, though lacking the maps and portraits.