[Slavery][American Revolution][Indians]

Watson, Winslow C., MEN AND TIMES OF THE REVOLUTION; or, MEMOIRS OF ELKANAH WATSON including JOURNALS AND TRAVELS IN EUROPE AND AMERICA FROM 1777 TO 1842. New York: Dana and Company, 1856.

            1^st Ed., Brown cloth hardcover w/gilt titling and blind stamped panels to spine and boards, 8vo (9.25 x 6”), good + / n.a., xvi, 460 pp.  All exterior edges bumped and rubbed especially at the ubiquitous head and tail of spine and corners.  Joints and hinges are started but holding quite firmly, front joint has a 2” thin tear at head of joint, previous owner plates affixed to front paste-down and free fly-leaf as detailed below, light foxing and soiling throughout, more prevalent in the end-papers. 

Elkanah Watson was an early American traveler, scholar, and businessman who is best-remembered for his numerous journals. Following his death, his son collected and edited his journals and published them under the title Men and the Times of the Revolution”. Watson's journals covered a wide variety of topics including information on George Washington, John Adams, encounters with Catawba Indians, letters of Madison and Jefferson, the American Revolution, and much more.

 Provenance of Bookplates:

 Chas. A Farnham, 1856, “ This book was presented to Charles A Farnham at the Mechanics Society School for high marks on his spring examinations. Also signed by John F. Jenkins, principal, and L. M. Stevens, chairman of the school committee.

 Ernest J. Wessen:  Ernest J. Wessen was a 20th century rare book collector and proprietor of the Midland Rare Book Company. He produced a short run of pamphlets called Midland Notes between 1937 and 1969, detailing the rare and antique books of his day, and was known to be oddly exclusive in his clientele.