Beschreibung:

SMITH, John, Capt. (1580-1631). The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: with the names of the Adventurers, Planters, and Governours from their first beginning An o:1584 to this present 1626 . London: J. D.[awson] and I. H.[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, 1627. 2 o (281 x 184 mm). Engraved title-page (Sabin's third state, with 1627 date), engraved folding plate with map of Ould Virginia (Sabin's fourth state), folding engraved map of Virginia (Sabin's tenth state), engraved folding plate with map of the Summer Isles (Sabin's third state), and folding engraved map of New England (Sabin's eighth state) (maps very skilfully mounted repairing a few old tears and silked on verso). (Title a little soiled, small flaw on A3 affecting marginal numerals, occasional pale stains, generally a crisp and clean copy.) 17th-century English blind-tooled calf, red morocco lettering piece (repairs to spine ends and corners, joints a bit rubbed, later endpapers); red quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance : Benedict Leonard Calvert (1700-1732), Restored Proprietary Governor of Maryland and son of Benedict Leondard Calvert, 4th Lord Baltimore (bookplate reading: "The Hon b l e Benedict Leonard Calvert Esq r i. 2 d son to the R t. Hon b l e. Ben. Leo. Lord Baltemore Absolute Lord and Proprietary of the Provinces of Maryland & Avalon in America"); anonymous owner, Sotheby's London, 28 June 1985, lot 358. FIRST EDITION, third issue (STC variant). SMITH'S MASTERPIECE: "THE FOUNDATION OF ENGLAND'S KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICA DURING THE EARLY PERIOD OF COLONIZATION" (PMM). The Generall Historie is comprised of the following: the first book describes the first settlement of Virginia, and the subsequent voyages there to 1605; the second is Smith's description of the country and its Indian inhabitants; the third book relates the occurrences of Smith's voyage and the settlement of Jamestown, from December 1606 to 1609, and is followed by two pages which consist of a reprint of laudatory verses addressed to Smith from The Description of New England , with a few lines of introduction by Smith beginning: "Now seeing there is thus much Paper here to spare..."; the fourth book continues the Virginia history from the planting of Point Comfort in 1609 to 1623; the fifth book comprises the history of the Bermudas (or Summer Isles) from 1593 to 1624, followed by verses also reprinted from the Description ; and the sixth book contains the history of New England from 1614 to 1624. The book was printed by two printers, to each of whom Smith gave half of their text. Their miscalculations of text length created a break in pagination--there are no pages 97-104. There is only one printing of the text, although Smith continually updated the title-page of the work to keep it current and reflect the death of James I and the accession of Charles I, whose portrait appears on this title. As the title-pages were reissued, Smith continually altered also the copper plates of the four excellent maps, adding names or changing details. To the four maps, Burden adds the title-page as a fifth, noting that a map of the East coast of North America from Cape Fear to Penobscot Bay appears below the portraits. The work contains Smith's eye-witness account of the founding of Jamestown, his capture and rescue through the intercession of Pocahontas, his observations during his time spent in Virginia (1606-1609), and his explorations of the New England coast (1610-1617). The Generall Historie is a major American primary source, incorporating much of his early writing as well as contemporary narratives by others. This copy without the scarce errata often found pasted to foot of final page; and bound without the portraits of the Duchess of Richmond and Lenox and Pocahontas (these issued separately and inserted in some copies). WITH A SUPERLATIVE COLONIAL PROVENANCE: Benedict Leonard Calvert descends from George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore, who sailed from Newfoundland to Virg