Notes on the State of Virginia
by JEFFERSON, Thomas
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Bryn Mawr,, Pennsylvania, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
1794. JEFFERSON, Thomas. Notes on the State of Virginia. Philadelphia: Printed for Mathew Carey..., 1794. [4],336pp., plus folding table and folding frontispiece map (21? x 15? inches). Modern three-quarter morocco and marbled boards, spine gilt with raised bands, gilt morocco label. Small bookplate of Belvoir House on front pastedown; faded contemporary ink stamps of the Royal Institution of Great Britain on verso of titlepage and in lower margin of p.336. Light scattered foxing, toning to edge of textblock. A bit of foxing to the map, with some offsetting and toning and starts to the folds near the edges. Very good. HOWES J78. SABIN 35898. CLARK I:262. SOWERBY, JEFFERSON'S LIBRARY 4167. ADAMS, THE EYE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON 57. EVANS 27162. REESE, FEDERAL HUNDRED 6 (ref). The second American edition of Jefferson's famous account of the natural, economic and political conditions of Virginia, and the first American edition to contain a map. This is the only book-length work by Jefferson to be published in his lifetime and has been called "one of America's first permanent literary and intellectual landmarks." Written in response to questions posed by Francois Barbe-Marbois, secretary to the French legation in Philadelphia, Notes on the State of Virginia contains detailed information about Virginia, including its natural history, society, politics, education, religion, slavery, liberty, and law. As J.M. Edelstein notes: "Jefferson wrote about things which interested him deeply and about which he knew a great deal; the Notes, therefore, throws a fascinating light on his tastes, curiosities, and political and social opinions." Jefferson even addresses the issue of slavery in response to the query regarding "the particular customs and manners that may happen to be received in that state." In his response, Jefferson states that "The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submission on the other." Jefferson concludes his discussion of the issue with a question and its likely answer: "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be vi.
Synopsis
Jefferson’s chronicle of the natural, social, and political history of Virginia is at once a scientific discourse, an attempt to define America, and a brilliant examination of the idea of freedom.
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Details
- Bookseller
- George S. MacManus Company (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 82288
- Title
- Notes on the State of Virginia
- Author
- JEFFERSON, Thomas
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Date Published
- 1794
- Keywords
- M/R, MAPS, VAXX, HOWESX, FINE/GEN AM
Terms of Sale
George S. MacManus Company
We accept VS or MC or we will hold for a check. Books may be returned with the original packing slip within 7 days. Domestic Shipping via UPS is $5.00 for 1st volume, $2.50 for each additional volume. International rates given upon request.
About the Seller
George S. MacManus Company
Biblio member since 2005
Bryn Mawr,, Pennsylvania
About George S. MacManus Company
Our inventory of over 45,000 catalogued titles focuses primarily on 18th and 19th century Americana with specialities such as Voyages and Travels, Local Histories, Indians and the West and the Civil War. Also included in our collection are English and American literary first editions, Limited Edition Club selections and Books about Books.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Raised Band(s)
- Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Marbled boards
- ...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...