Printed and Manuscript Americana

Very Rare First Edition on Early Colonial New England, Including the First Printed Account of Harvard University

London: Printed by R.O. and G.D. for Henry Overton, 1643. First edition. Small 4to. (ii), 26 pp.; lacking errata leaf, as usual (very rarely present), some pages misnumbered; first seven leaves, including title-page, foliated in manuscript ("234-241"). Full burgundy levant, title gilt on upper board and spine, all edges gilt, gilt dentelles, by Riviere, expertly rebacked. From the library of philanthropist, social reformer, and Americana collector, Alfred Tredway White (1846-1921), with his presentation inscription, dated March 1920, on front free endpaper. Sabin 52758; Church 458; Field, Indian Bibliography 490, see note; ESTC R1260; Vail 98

Very rare first edition of the first "Eliot Tract," an important and early description of colonial life in New England and Puritan efforts to convert the indigenous tribes of the region to Christianity. Often attributed to Puritan missionary John Eliot (1604-90), it is the first of 11 such pamphlets published between 1643-75. The first settlement in New England was established only 20 years before this publication, but missionary work did not begin until a few years later. This pamphlet was created by settlers in response to critics in England who questioned their evangelization efforts. Eliot's missionary work would culminate in 1663 with his publication of the so-called Eliot Indian Bible, the first translation of the Bible into an indigenous American language, and the first Bible printed in North America.

This tract, one of the rarest of the 11, is also notable for featuring the first printed account of Harvard College, founded only seven years prior to this publication: "After God had carried us safe to New-England, and wee had builded our houses, provided necessaries for our liveli-hood, rear'd convenient places for Gods worship, and setled the Civill Government: One of the next things we longed for and looked after was to advance Learning and perpetuate it to Posterity; dreading to leave an illiterate Ministery to the Churches...it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard (a godly Gentleman, and a lover of Learning, there living amongst us) to give the one halfe of his Estate...towards the erecting of a Colledge, and all his Library...the Colledge was, by common consent, appointed to be at Cambridge...and is called...Harvard Colledge." (p. 12)

At least ten other tracts, primarily written by Eliot, were published up to 1675, each in support of Eliot's various missionary activities in the New World.

An important and early piece of Americana. Very rare at auction, this is only the fourth copy offered, according to RBH, in nearly 40 years. With a prestigious provenance, it has been in the family of the consignor for over a century, having been given to them by the distinguished collector Alfred T. White.

White was one of New York's most prominent philanthropists and social reformers at the turn of the century, who advocated for the education and betterment for the city's working poor. He is remembered for his low-rent housing projects, including the Tower and Home Apartments in Brooklyn, the first of such low-rent apartments constructed in the United States. His lifelong work on behalf of Brooklyn's poor resulted in him being deemed "Brooklyn's first citizen".