The Life of George Washington.

MARSHALL, John (George Washington).

Item Number: 27004

Philadelphia: C.P. Wayne, 1804-07.

First editions of Marshall’s magisterial biography of Washington. 6 volumes, including the atlas, which contains 10 maps. Octavo, bound in full contemporary treecalf, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers. With the original atlas. The scarce quarto atlas contains its own title and a 22-page list of subscribers (Adams, Jefferson, and Madison are all listed). In very good condition with minor edge wear, some light offsetting to the atlas, much less than usual.  Housed in a custom-made morocco lined display case with mounted ceramic portraits (circa 1900) of Martha and George Washington.

John Marshall's description of the life, character, and achievements of the "Father of America" is unparalleled by any other author. As a contemporary and peer of Washington, he has a unique and intimate perspective on the man that no other historian can claim. If you want a first hand description of this history changing figure, than John Marshall's work is essential. The work “is political history as well as biography… the only comprehensive account by a great statesman of the full founding of the United States— of the founding of an independent people as well as of its government… There is no other concentrated history of the essentials by such an authority on American institutions” (Robert K. Faulkner).