5 volumes + atlas. [2], xxii, 488, 45; viii, 560, 72; viii, 580, 28; viii, 626, [2], 16; vii, [1], 779, 36 pp. Stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait. Atlas with 10 copper-engraved maps, 8 double-page, 2 folding, plus 22 printed pages of subscriber's name. Text volumes are (8vo) 8¼x5, period (original?) tree calf, spines tooled & lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers; atlas is (4to) 11¼x9¼, original leather-backed marbled boards, printed paper cover label. First Edition.
First edition of Marshall's seminal biography of George Washington, with the rare and significant atlas volume. Sabin notes that later histories did not contain the Colonial History. He also quites Jared Sparks as stating that "after the able, accurate and comprehensive work of Chief Justice Marshall, it would be presumptuous to attempt a historical biography of Washington." The atlas includes maps of the Boston area, New York Island, northern New Jersey, New Hampshire, Yorktown, etc. Howes M317; Sabin 44788. With the bookplates of Thomas Fleming, Jr., in the text volumes; small rubberstamp of D. Wheeler on the front flyleaves; early ink ownership signature of A. Hands to title-pages or flyleaves; atlas with inscription to John Henry Blair from the Rev. John Buchanan on front pastedown, Blair's ownership signature, dated July, 1812, to title-page.
Condition:
Some shelf wear, darkening to spines, Vol. V front cover nearly detached, hanging by a thread, with evidence of earlier glue repair; contents with some foxing, darkening and occasional minor stains; atlas covers worn, spine largely perished, offsetting and some darkening/foxing to the maps, Plate V with small holes in upper left in a circular pattern, Plate IX torn with some loss along fold; overall very good, better than usually found.