AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY; from its Formation in the Year 1637, to the Present Time. Compiled and Arranged from Ancient Records

Boston: Printed and published, under the patronage of the Company, by E.G. House, a member, 1820. 8vo (signed in fours). 199 pages. Original quarter orange paper over grey paper covered boards with printed paper spine label. [24 cm.] Spine cracked in several places with the text block holding by cords. It is holding well enough that the book is serviceable for reading as is, although a sympathetic backing is probably desirable. Spine also shows some chips, with some loss to the printed label. Boards soiled and with a faint notation on the front board; wear to all corners; and bend to the front board. Some chips, tears, and browning to the endpapers. Internally very good with occasional foxing only, most evident on the first page of text (see photo); some soiling to p. 158 not affecting legibiltiy; and a closed, marginal tear to pp. 121-122 in no way affecting the text. Faint pencilled name of P.R.L. Stone, a Boston merchant who dealt in West India goods, on front flyleaf. FIRST EDITION. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company is the oldest chartered military organization in the U.S. It was formed in 1637 as a group for training militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and its charter was granted by Governor Winthrop the following year. Many prominent American statesmen and military men were members of the organization through the years, and the volume contains much on soldiers of the Revolutionary War (although the Company was itself inactive during the period 1775-1786). The author, Zacheriah Gardner Whitman (1789-1840), a Boston attorney, was admitted to the Company in 1810, made lieutenant in 1819, and served several times as its clerk. Sabin 103751.