The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces During the War which Established the Independence of His Country, and First President of the United States

London: Printed for Richard Phillips, 1807. First English Edition. Twelve folding maps and three frontispiece plates. xxxii,458; vii,[1],541,[2]; viii,460; vii,[1],589; vii,[1],669,[4]pp. 5 vols. 4to. Contemporary full tree calf, covers with a decorative roll tool border, flat spine gilt with red and black morocco labels, marbled endpapers, minor edge wear. Slipcase. Provenance: Le Gendre Pierce Starkie (armorial bookplate). First English Edition. Twelve folding maps and three frontispiece plates. xxxii,458; vii,[1],541,[2]; viii,460; vii,[1],589; vii,[1],669,[4]pp. 5 vols. 4to. First quarto British edition and, according to Howes, the best edition of (truncated) Marshall's classic biography of Washington. "After the able, accurate and comprehensive work of Chief Justice Marshall, it would be presumptuous to attempt a historical biography of Washington" (Jared Sparks). The first American edition and this first British edition contain a history of the colonies in the first volume which was omitted from later editions. Howes calls for ten maps and six plates, but the present copy conforms to the list of maps and plates in the rear of the fifth volume. Howes M317, "aa"; Sabin 44788; Reese, Revolutionary Hundred 92 (Inventory #: 371176)