Travels through the States of North America, and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, During the Years 1795, 1796, and 1797
Author: Weld, Isaac, Jr (1774-1856)
Year: 1799
Publisher: Printed for John Stockdale
Place: London
Description:
xxiv+464+[8 ad] pages with engraved frontispiece, 14 engraved plates; two maps, one folding, hand-colored in outline. Octavo (10 1/2 x 8 1/4") bound in full tree calf with maroon spine label, gilt title on spine, marbled end-papers. Lacks the rare erratum slip typically mounted at foot of plate list. (Howes W-235; Lande 890; Sabin 102541; TPL 708) First edition.
In 1795 Weld sailed to Philadelphia from Dublin and spent two years travelling in the United States and Canada. He visited Monticello and Mount Vernon and met George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. He journeyed to the United States and Canada partly as an adventure and partly as research into suitable countries for the Irish to emigrate to: "any part of those territories might be looked forward to as an eligible and agreeable place of abode". He traveled on horseback, by coach and by canoe in Canada with local native guides. He returned in 1797 "without entertaining the slightest wish to revisit it." He found the Americans to be obsessed with material things and preferred Canada. His published Travels (1799) quickly went into three editions and was translated into French, German, Italian, and Dutch.
Condition:
Cracked front outer hinge, spine ends rubbed, edges of boards with embossing that was likely originally gilt, now worn, book plate to front paste down. Internally clean else a good to very good copy.
Year: 1799
Publisher: Printed for John Stockdale
Place: London
Description:
xxiv+464+[8 ad] pages with engraved frontispiece, 14 engraved plates; two maps, one folding, hand-colored in outline. Octavo (10 1/2 x 8 1/4") bound in full tree calf with maroon spine label, gilt title on spine, marbled end-papers. Lacks the rare erratum slip typically mounted at foot of plate list. (Howes W-235; Lande 890; Sabin 102541; TPL 708) First edition.
In 1795 Weld sailed to Philadelphia from Dublin and spent two years travelling in the United States and Canada. He visited Monticello and Mount Vernon and met George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. He journeyed to the United States and Canada partly as an adventure and partly as research into suitable countries for the Irish to emigrate to: "any part of those territories might be looked forward to as an eligible and agreeable place of abode". He traveled on horseback, by coach and by canoe in Canada with local native guides. He returned in 1797 "without entertaining the slightest wish to revisit it." He found the Americans to be obsessed with material things and preferred Canada. His published Travels (1799) quickly went into three editions and was translated into French, German, Italian, and Dutch.
Condition:
Cracked front outer hinge, spine ends rubbed, edges of boards with embossing that was likely originally gilt, now worn, book plate to front paste down. Internally clean else a good to very good copy.
