The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle, 1775, 1776, and 1777. London: D. Henry, 1775-1777.... (Total: 3 Items)

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With an Early Printing of the American Declaration of Independence

The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle, 1775, 1776, and 1777. London: D. Henry, 1775-1777.

Three octavo volumes including volumes XLV, XLVI, and XLVII. 639, index; 608 index; and 641, index, pages. With many fold-out maps and assorted illustrations in each volume.

Half calf binding and marble boards with titles and decoration stamped in gilt on the spine. Significant wear to the leather corners and spines of all volumes with scuffing to their marbled boards. The 1776 volume has a 2" split in the rear joint at the head of the spine; the 1777 volume is missing a 2" x 2" portion of the spine leather. However the contents of all volumes are tight, sound and reasonably bright. In total, a very good set whose historical value makes them worthy of professional conservation.

Contained in these three volumes is a wealth of reports on the colonies and reports of the American Revolution. Notable are first-hand reports on the battle at Lexington and Concord and a verbatim transcription of the American Declaration of Independence signed in type by John Hancock. Later in the 1776 issue there is commentary questioning whether the grievances detailed by the American Congress were real or imagined - "the ball has been struck and only time can tell where it shall rest." Additionally the poems, fiction, commentary and other stories contained in the volumes provide an interesting background to English society during the Revolutionary period.