Estate / Collection: The Property of a New England Family

MARRYAT, FREDERICK, CAPTAIN
Diary in America with Remarks on its Institutions. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1839. First series. First single-volume edition published the same year as the two-volume first American edition, with a letter laid-in from Marryat's secretary inviting Loammi Baldwin. Jr. of Charlestown (Mass) to meet Marryat. Original buckram backed boards with paper label. 7 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches (19 x 11 cm); 263 pp. Spotting, somewhat heavy at pastedowns, ink signature of Charles Hayward dated August 1839 to front blank, modern bookplate of the Ethan Allan chapter of the DAR, stains and small chips to label, boards rubbed and with minor stains, a sound copy.

An interesting unsophisticated copy of Marryat's diary, with comment on slavery and other aspects of 19th century American life garnered on his 1837 tour of the U.S. and Canada. The two-volume edition is listed by Howes as the first American edition and the single volume Philadelphia issue by Carey & Hart (and two pirated New York editions) seem to have been issued subsequently but the August 1839 signature herein suggests the work published by mid-1839. Marryat also attempted to use this work to establish American copyright but the book was pirated, nonetheless. Howes M300.