viii, 304, 295-331, [1], v, [1], 34 pp. (8vo), 20.5x12.8 cm (8x5"), period speckled calf, raised spine bands, morocco lettering piece. First Edition, third issue.
The third issue, or edition, of this important history, one of the earliest imprints of a domestic history printed in America, for which Sabin devotes much space to "the intricacies of the bibliographical problem presented by the... work." He also notes that "Stith's History covered the period up to 1624. According to the preface, he intended to carry it further, but no more was published. Its value is based chiefly upon the MS. sources at his command. He says that these included copies of documents collected by his uncle, Sir John Randolph... His printed sources were mainly the writings of Captain John Smith, Hariot, and Purchas." Sabin also states that the book was printed on both fine and poor paper, but that signature X was printed on poor paper in all copies. This copy has that signature, and the final signature of the Appendix, darkened from being on the poor paper, but the remainder of the paper is quite good. Evans 6071; Howes S1015; Sabin 91860. With armorial bookplate of George Grenville, the "father of the Stamp Act," so regarded for his institution of taxation of the American colonies when Prime Minister of Great Britain, causing widespread opposition. Accompanied by a copy of Morgan Robinsons "A Complete Index to Stith's History of Virginia, from the Virginia State Library, 1912, in wrappers.