Printed and Manuscript Americana

London: Printed for J. Almon, 1780. First edition. 4to. viii, 140, lxii, (2, ad) pp. Illustrated with a folding engraved frontispiece map with hand-colored outlining, and five engraved battle plans with hand-colored outlining (two with engraved overlays), by William Faden. Three-quarter brown calf over marbled paper-covered boards, sometime rebacked, front board detached, boards and extremities rubbed and worn, spine dry; all edges trimmed; front free endpaper loose; offsetting to plates; scattered spotting to text. From the family library of Americana and autograph collectors Amor and Zachary T. Hollingsworth. Howes B-968; Sabin 9255; Adams, American Controversy 80-12a; Gephart 6179; Nebenzahl, Battle Plans of the American Revolution, 48, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57; Reese, The Revolutionary Hundred 63; ESTC T117437

First edition of British General John Burgoyne's defense of his command of the failed campaign of 1777 during the American Revolution. In 1777 the British devised a plan to gain control of the Hudson Valley and cut the rebellious New England states off from the rest of America, thus smothering the nascent revolution. To execute this plan Burgoyne led an offensive from the north, British General William Howe from the south, and Brigadier General Barry St. Leger from the west, with the goal to unite in Albany, New York. The campaign failed after Howe decided to capture Philadelphia instead of reinforcing Burgoyne's troops in Northern New York, a disastrous decision for the British that resulted with Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga to American General Horatio Gates. It was a stinging and consequential loss for the British that marked a turning point in the war, and resulted in France joining the conflict in support of the United States early the following year.

Upon his return to England, Burgoyne faced severe criticism for the British defeat, and he published this volume in 1780 as a means to defend his actions. In it, he largely lays the blame for the British loss on General Howe, who resigned his command in April 1778.