The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning: (A Tory in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain): Giving an Account of His Adventures in North Carolina, From 1775 to 1783 as Written by Himself, with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes.

FANNING, David.

$50,000.00

Item Number: 125637

Richmond, VA: Printed for Private Distribution Only, 1861.

First edition of the first book printed in the Confederacy. Quarto, original stiff paper wrappers, one of approximately 50 copies issued on regular paper. Ten being issued on thick paper, and twenty copies destroyed in a fire. In very good condition, reinforcement to the hinges. Housed in a custom full morocco clamshell box. Howes F26. Sabin 23778. Exceptionally rare.

David Fanning was one of the most infamous of the Southern Tories, raiding Patriots throughout the Carolinas. His guerilla warfare only paused when he was captured, but following each of his multiple escapes he would quickly resume his vengeful predation. His narrative was to be the first in a series, but the Civil War intervened and only this initial volume was produced. It was reprinted by Sabin in 1865, but this original edition was noted by Goodspeed's "as one of the finest of Confederate imprints."