Die Lebensbeschreibung und merkwürdige Handlungen von George Washington,: General und Befehishaber der Armeen von Nord-America.: Nebst der Erklärung der Unabhängigkeit und der Constitution der Vereinigten Staaten. Aus dem Englischen übersetzt.

THE FIRST GERMAN LANGUAGE EDITION COMPLETEWITH ITS CRUDE PORTRAIT FRONTISPIECE

[WEEMS, Mason Locke]. Die Lebensbeschreibung und merkwürdige Handlungen von George Washington, General und Befehishaber der Armeen von Nord-America.: Nebst der Erklärung der Unabhängigkeit und der Constitution der Vereinigten Staaten. Aus dem Englischen übersetzt. 12mo, original plain boards (rubbed, newly resewn, spine mostly perished), woodcut frontispiece portrait, pp. [2], 176, uncut, as issued. Friederichstadt [Frederick, Maryland]: Gedruckt bey M. Bärtgis, 1809.

First Edition in German of one of the earliest biographies of George Washington (1800), emanating from from a southern town with a large German-speaking population. Bärtgis published an English edition in 1801. Written by the man who invented the enduring myth of Washington and the cherry tree, which did not appear until the book's fifth edition in 1806. A very good, crisp, uncut copy in original state, other than having been resewn. Very rare in the market place; we have not found a record of a copy having been offered for sale. Skeel 18. Sabin 102481. Howes W-218. Seidensticker 175. Felix Reichman, German Printing in Maryland: A Checklist, 1768-1950, 113. American Imprints 19192. Bötte, First Century of German language printing in the United States of America, 1661.