Humphrey's An Historical Account, Complete with Scarce Folding Maps

David Humphreys. AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS. CONTAINING THEIR FOUNDATION, PROCEEDINGS, AND THE SUCCESS OF THEIR MISSIONARIES IN THE BRITISH COLONIES, TO THE YEAR 1728. London: Joseph Downing, 1730. First edition. Rebound in mid- to late 20th-century blind-stamped and paneled calf, gilt-stamped spine with raised bands and gilt-lettered red morocco label, endpapers refreshed, with sticker of Massachusetts bookbinder C. A. Carpenter, Jr. on rear paste-down. 8vo; A8 a8 B-Z8 2A2; [i-ii], iii-xxxi, [1], 1-128, 127-174, 177-356pp. With (2) folding maps by H. Moll, including "A Map of the Province of Carolina Divided into its Parishes &c. According to the latest Accounts. 1730." and "A Map of New England, New York, New Jersey and Pensilvania." With printed marginalia, decorated initials, and head- and tail-pieces. Howes H795; Sabin 33801; ESTC T36297.

8 1/16 x 5 3/8 in.

This book provides an account of missionaries in the British colonies in America, with reports on the religious state of the colonies, and individual chapters on South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Allibone calls this a book "which every collector of American history should possess" (1:919). According to the preface of Humphreys's work, "This Account is compiled from Papers, transmitted to the Society, by Governors of Colonies, or Persons of Note abroad; or from Congregations of People, and the Missionaries in the Plantations" (p. iii).

Finely bound with some scratches and scuffs, minor dents, and light edgewear to boards with a small area of discoloration at the head of the spine; some spotting to endpapers concentrated at paste-downs; title with small repair; leaves with toning at edges, minor worming, mostly very light scattered foxing (heavier at title, preliminaries, and final leaves), and occasional grime and small corner stain; a couple of pages with faint red marks and a small number of edge chips/closed tears; both maps in very good condition with some toning, spotting, and repairs at folds, and a couple of tiny edge or corner chips, second map with (2) closed tears at folds; a very good or better copy.